bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
CRISPR/dCas9 platforms in plants: strategies and applications beyond genome editing
Authors: Moradpour Mahdi , Abdulah Siti Nor Akmar 
Published: August 2019

SummaryClustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) and Cas9‐associated protein systems provide a powerful genetic manipulation tool that can drive plant research forward. Nuclease‐dead Cas9 (dCas9) is an enzymatically inactive mutant of Cas9 in which its endonuclease activity is non‐functional. The applications of CRISPR/dCas9 have expanded and diversified in recent years. Originally, dCas9 was used as a CRISPR/Cas9 re‐engineering tool that enables targeted expression of any gene or multiple genes through recruitment of transcriptional effector domains without introducing irreversible DNA‐damaging mutations. Subsequent applications have made use of its ability to recruit modifying enzymes and reporter proteins to DNA target sites. In this paper, the most recent progress in the applications of CRISPR/dCas9 in plants, which include gene activation and repression, epigenome editing, modulation of chromatin topology, live‐cell chromatin imaging and DNA‐free genetic modification, will be reviewed. The associated strategies for exploiting the CRISPR/dCas9 system for crop improvement with a dimer of the future of the CRISPR/dCas9 system in the functional genomics of crops and the development of traits will be briefly discussed.
Effect of Trichoderma viride pre‐inoculation in pine species with different levels of susceptibility to Fusarium circinatum: physiological and hormonal responses
Authors: Amaral J. , Pinto G. , Flores‐Pacheco J. A. , Díez‐Casero J. J. , Cerqueira A. , Monteiro P. , Gómez‐Cadenas A. , Alves A. , Martín‐García J. 
Published: August 2019

Pine pitch canker (PPC), caused by Fusarium circinatum, affects Pinus species worldwide. Although no effective solutions have yet been found to control it, there is a growing interest in using biological control agents (BCA) such as Trichoderma to avoid the application of chemical‐based products. Using species with an increasing level of susceptibility to PPC (Pinus pinea, Pinus pinaster and Pinus radiata), this study aimed to evaluate the effect of Trichoderma viride pre‐inoculation on disease development, assessing several physiological and hormonal parameters. A 2‐week period elapsed between T. viride and F. circinatum inoculation. Sampling for each species was performed independently when at least 50% of the plants of one of the inoculated groups developed disease symptoms. Fusarium circinatum infection reduced water status and photosynthesis, but increased proline, abscisic acid and jasmonic acid concentrations in plants of P. radiata and P. pinaster with symptoms; while in P. pinea water relations were maintained and anthocyanin accumulation occurred in the presence of F. circinatum. In P. radiata, T. viride pre‐inoculation accelerated disease progression, with some PPC‐induced responses augmented (decreased water potential and photosynthesis; increased substomatal CO2 concentration) and novel changes not found in seedlings inoculated exclusively with F. circinatum (increased electrolyte leakage and salicylic acid; decreased relative water content). This suggests that T. viride may be initially recognized as an invading organism, subverting the plant defence mechanisms for successful root colonization. If seedlings are not allowed to recover from this state, pathogen infection may thus be facilitated, highlighting the importance of application timing in BCA strategies.
Business conflict and international law: The political economy of copyright in the United States
Authors: Cartwright Madison 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThe internet industry has emerged as an important economic and political actor, both within the United States and internationally. Internet companies depend on exceptions from copyright law in order to operate. As a result, internet companies have considerable incentive to try and influence international copyright law. However, the current literature has neglected the role of the internet industry, instead focusing on the influence of copyright owning media companies. This has largely homogenized the concerns of business interests, neglecting the interests of business actors which do not favor stricter copyright protection. By examining business conflict over recent copyright initiatives by the United States, this article criticizes the literature. It illustrates that the internet industry has been able to alter the negotiating preferences of the United States against the wishes of copyright owners. This argues against the homogenization of business interests regarding copyright while illustrating the importance of material over discursive factors in determining political outcomes.
Analysis by proteomics reveals unique circulatory proteins in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Moodley Yuben P. , Corte Tamera J. , Oliver Brian G. , Glaspole Ian N. , Livk Andreja , Ito Jason , Peters Kirsten , Lipscombe Richard , Casey Tammy , Tan Dino B.A. 
Published: August 2019

ABSTRACTBackground and objectiveIdiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive fibrotic disease that has a poor 3‐year median survival rate with unclear pathophysiology. Radiological features include bibasal, subpleural fibrosis and honeycombing while its pathology is characterized by fibroblastic foci and honeycombing. Proteomic analysis of circulating molecules in plasma may identify factors that characterize IPF and may assist in the diagnosis, prognostication and determination of pathogenic pathways in this condition.MethodsTwo independent quantitative proteomic techniques were used, isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM), to identify differentially expressed plasma proteins in a group of IPF patients in comparison to healthy controls with normal lung function matched for age and gender.ResultsFive proteins were identified to be differentially expressed in IPF compared to healthy controls (upregulation of platelet basic protein and downregulation of actin, cytoplasmic 2, antithrombin‐III, extracellular matrix protein‐1 and fibronectin).ConclusionThis study further validates the combinational use of non‐targeted discovery proteomics (iTRAQ) with targeted quantitation by mass spectrometry (MRM) of soluble biomarkers to identify potentially important molecules and pathways for pulmonary diseases such as IPF.
Impact of cultivation on soil organic carbon and carbon sequestration potential in semiarid regions of China
Authors: Guoju Xiao , Yanbin Hu , Qiang Zhang , Jing Wang , Ming Li 
Published: August 2019

AbstractDynamic changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) have become a popular topic in global research on organic carbon as part of the increasing attention being paid to food security and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In this paper, the semiarid regions of China were selected as a research focus, and SOC data from 1980 to 2015 were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics 20.0 software. SOC in farmland varied according to cultivated land type, mulching material type and planting method in the studied regions. The SOC content is 10.3–10.8 g kg−1 in supplementally irrigated land and flat dry land, 7.1–8.7 g kg−1 in terraced dry land and river beach land, and 6.2–6.4 g kg−1 in sloping dry land. The SOC content increased to 16.1–17.4 g kg−1 when crop stalks were used as mulch. The increase was only 11.5–13.5 g kg−1 in soils mulched with film or sandstone. The SOC value in wheat, maize and potatoes sown on single or double ridges was 2.4%–3.2%, 35.7%–36.4% and 4.4%–4.8%, respectively, which are higher than the values for wheat, maize and potatoes sown using the flat planting method. The SOC sequestering potential also varied according to the previously noted factors and was improved from 224.1% to 383.8% depending on cultivated land type, from 96.5% to 182.3% depending on mulching material type and from 96.1% to 191.3% depending on planting method. The SOC sequestering potential can be improved by 453.2%–757.4% with the integration of the optimal cultivated land type, mulching material type and planting method. Thus, there is substantial soil carbon sequestration potential in China's semiarid regions.
Soil risk maps – Interpreting soils data for policy makers, agencies and industry
Authors: Baggaley Nikki , Lilly Allan , Blackstock Kirsty , Dobbie Karen , Carson Adam , Leith Fraser 
Published: August 2019

AbstractSurface runoff, erosion, compaction and the leaching of potential pollutants from land can degrade the soil resource and damage the water environment, reducing crop yields, causing loss of valuable nutrients and organic matter, together with increasing flood risk. Increasingly, it is recognized that scientific information must be translated into practical tools to change practices and protect the soil and water resource. Working alongside agencies in Scotland, we applied a suite of simple, transparent, rule‐based models to identify areas most at risk of exporting sediment and pollutants that may degrade water quality based on field‐scale (1:25,000) soil maps. The maps have been used by Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Water and Scottish Government to assess soil risks to waters from field to regional scale. The work brought scientists together with policy makers, agencies and the water industry to pool their knowledge to apply these practical tools for decision‐making. It highlights the need to apply existing knowledge to answer salient questions. All three examples described show that providing the right type of information, which is based on fundamental soils data, can directly influence the implementation of policies, investment and monitoring decisions and provide evidence in support of government. However, this requires both researchers and agency scientists to develop skills as knowledge brokers and to normalize the use of soil data in everyday agency settings.
Transfusion‐associated circulatory overload risk mitigation: survey on hospital policies for compliance with AABB Standard 5.9.17
Authors: Yazer Mark H. , Dunbar Nancy M. , Thomas Jackie , Nunes Eduardo , Murphy Michael F. ,   on Behalf of the Biomedical Excellence for Safer Transfusion (BEST) Collaborative
Published: August 2019

BACKGROUNDAABB Standards for Blood Banks and Transfusion Services require accredited institutions to have a policy for handling requests for blood components on patients clinically identified as being at high risk for transfusion‐associated circulatory overload (TACO; Standard 5.19.7, 31st edition). This survey elucidated how AABB accredited hospital transfusion services/blood banks around the world are complying with this Standard.METHODSA link to a Web‐based survey in English was e‐mailed under the auspice of the AABB to each AABB accredited hospital transfusion service/blood bank (n = 851) asking for details on how their institution is complying with this Standard and for general information on any TACO risk mitigation strategies in place.RESULTSOf the 290 responses received (34% response rate), 282 met the criteria for analysis. There were 174 of 282 (62%) respondents who indicated that their institution has a formal policy for complying with the Standard, and 108 of 282 (38%) who indicated that their institution does not have a formal policy. A diverse range of policies and practices were in place at the institutions with and without a formal policy ranging from writing advice/recommendations in the charts of patients at increased risk of TACO, promulgating policies from the transfusion service/blood bank or institution itself that would reduce the risk, or using decision support tools to provide education about reducing the risk of TACO.CONCLUSIONSMany but not all AABB accredited institutions have policies to comply with the TACO risk mitigation Standard. However, the vast majority conduct activities that could mitigate risk for TACO.
Feasibility of photoacoustic imaging for the non‐invasive quality management of stored blood bags
Authors: Pinto Ruben N. , Hysi Eno , Bagga Karan , Sebastian Joseph A. , Douplik Alexandre , Acker Jason P. , Kolios Michael C. 
Published: August 2019

Background and ObjectivesDuring the in vitro storage of red blood cells (RBCs), unfavourable changes (storage lesions) cause a rapid consumption of intracellular diphosphoglycerate. The latter deregulates the oxygen‐haemoglobin binding potential, subsequently increasing oxygen saturation (SO2) and membrane degradation, transforming RBCs from biconcave discs to rigid spherical bodies (spheroechinocytes). Current laboratory techniques invasively extract RBC samples to assess the quality of red cell concentrate (RCC) units. Optical technologies could provide a means of assessing quality non‐invasively.Materials and MethodsA photoacoustic (PA) imaging technique was developed for acquiring the SO2 of blood bags non‐invasively. Seven RCC units were monitored every 3–5 days until expiry (6 weeks). Measurements were validated against a conventional blood gas analyzer (BGA). Using an image flow cytometry assay, morphological profile trends were compared against the SO2 trends during blood bag storage.ResultsA strong correlation (r2 ≥ 0·95) was found when comparing temporal data between PA and BGA SO2 measurements. Inter‐sample PA variability was found to be similar to that produced by BGA (±0·8%). A strong correlation was found to exist between the temporal changes in SO2 and relative spheroechinocyte population (0·79 ≤ r2 ≤ 0·97).ConclusionThis study suggests that PA imaging can non‐invasively track the SO2 of stored RBCs non‐invasively. By longitudinally monitoring the change in SO2, it is possible to infer the effects of the storage lesion on RBC morphology. This non‐invasive monitoring technique allows for the assessment of blood bags, without compromising sterility pre‐transfusion.
High potency multistrain probiotic improves liver histology in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): a randomised, double-blind, proof of concept study
Authors: Duseja Ajay , Acharya Subrat K , Mehta Manu , Chhabra Shruti ,   Shalimar, Rana Satyavati , Das Ashim , Dattagupta Siddhartha , Dhiman Radha K , Chawla Yogesh K 
Published: August 2019

ObjectivePharmacological treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is still evolving. Probiotics could be a promising treatment option, but their effectiveness needs to be established. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a high potency multistrain probiotic in adult patients with NAFLD.MethodsThirty-nine liver biopsy-proven patients with NAFLD were randomised in a double-blind fashion to either lifestyle modifications plus an oral multistrain probiotic (675 billion bacteria daily, n=19) or identical placebo (n=20) for 1 year. Lifestyle modifications included regular exercise for all and control of overweight/obesity (with additional dietary restrictions), hypertension and hyperlipidaemia in those with these risk factors. Primary objective of the study was the histological improvement in NAFLD activity score (NAS) and its components and secondary objectives were improvement in alanine transaminase (ALT) and cytokine profile.ResultsThirty (76.9%) out of 39 patients with NAFLD completed the study with 1 year of follow-up. A repeat liver biopsy at 1 year could be done in 10 patients (52.6%) in probiotic group and five patients (25%) in placebo group. In comparison to baseline, hepatocyte ballooning (p=0.036), lobular inflammation (p=0.003) and NAS score (p=0.007) improved significantly at 1 year in the probiotic group. When compared with placebo, the NAS score improved significantly in the probiotic group (p=0.004), along with improvements in hepatocyte ballooning (p=0.05) and hepatic fibrosis (p=0.018). A significant improvement in levels of ALT (p=0.046), leptin (p=0.006), tumour necrosis factor-α (p=0.016) and endotoxins (p=0.017) was observed in probiotic group in comparison to placebo at 1 year. No significant adverse events were reported in the study.ConclusionPatients with NAFLD managed with lifestyle modifications and multistrain probiotic showed significant improvement in liver histology, ALT and cytokines.Trial registration numberThe clinical trial is registered with CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRYINDIA (CTRI);http://ctri.nic.in, No. CTRI/2008/091/000074
Community pharmacy medication review, death and re-admission after hospital discharge: a propensity score-matched cohort study
Authors: Lapointe-Shaw Lauren , Bell Chaim M , Austin Peter C , Abrahamyan Lusine , Ivers Noah M , Li Ping , Pechlivanoglou Petros , Redelmeier Donald A , Dolovich Lisa 
Published: August 2019

BackgroundIn-hospital medication review has been linked to improved outcomes after discharge, yet there is little evidence to support the use of community pharmacy-based interventions as part of transitional care.ObjectiveTo determine whether receipt of a postdischarge community pharmacy-based medication reconciliation and adherence review is associated with a reduced risk of death or re-admission.DesignPropensity score-matched cohort study.SettingOntario, CanadaParticipantsPatients over age 66 years discharged home from an acute care hospital from 1 April 2007 to 16 September 2016.ExposureMedsCheck, a publicly funded medication reconciliation and adherence review provided by community pharmacists.Main outcomeThe primary outcome was time to death or re-admission (defined as an emergency department visit or urgent rehospitalisation) up to 30 days. Secondary outcomes were the 30-day count of outpatient physician visits and time to adverse drug event.ResultsMedsCheck recipients had a lower risk of 30-day death or re-admission (23.4% vs 23.9%, HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.95 to 1.00, p=0.02), driven by a decreased risk of death (1.7% vs 2.1%, HR 0.79, 95% CI 0.73 to 0.86) and rehospitalisation (11.0% vs 11.4%, HR 0.96, 95% 0.93–0.99). In a post hoc sensitivity analysis with pharmacy random effects added to the propensity score model, these results were substantially attenuated. There was no significant difference in 30-day return to the emergency department (22.5% vs 22.8%, HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.96 to 1.01) or adverse drug events (1.5% vs 1.5%, HR 1.03, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.12). MedsCheck recipients had more outpatient visits (mean 2.11 vs 2.09, RR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.02, p=0.02).Conclusions and relevanceAmong older adults, receipt of a community pharmacy-based medication reconciliation and adherence review was associated with a small reduced risk of short-term death or re-admission. Due to the possibility of unmeasured confounding, experimental studies are needed to clarify the relationship between postdischarge community pharmacy-based medication review and patient outcomes.
Assessment of the awareness and usages of family planning methods in the Lebanese community
Authors: El Khoury Ghada , Salameh Pascale 
Published: August 2019

BackgroundWorldwide, one in three women has unmet family planning (FP) needs because of difficulties in accessing or using contraceptives. In Lebanon, information from the scientific literature on the national prevalence of contraceptive use appears scarce.ObjectiveIn view of this, we measured the current Lebanese national prevalence of FP methods’ uptake among women and men of reproductive age, and we assessed barriers for potential unmet need.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional survey on a nationally representative sample of 825 married women (aged 15–49 years) and men of reproductive age (aged 18+ years). We used the validated Demographic & Health Survey (DHS) data collection tool and analysed data with SPSS Version 22.0 with p values <0.05 considered statistically significant.ResultsWe found that the current prevalence of contraceptive use is 55.6%, the unmet need is 11.4%, the total demand for FP is 67% and the percentage of satisfied demand for FP is 83%. Despite favourable knowledge of and access to FP methods as well as positive attitudes towards FP; there is a clear stagnation in the rate of contraception use over the past four decades. The identified major factors hindering the use of FP methods in Lebanon appear to be religion, age and lower educational levels.ConclusionWe suggest the implementation of effective interventions at the national level to promote and encourage the uptake of modern FP methods among couples. The latter will further promote maternal and child health, as well as empower women to fulfil their equal function in society.
A 5-year evaluation of the emergency contraception enhanced community pharmacy service provided in Wales
Authors: Mantzourani Efi , Hodson Karen , Evans Andrew , Alzetani Sarah , Hayward Rebecca , Deslandes Rhian , Hughes Mary Louise , Holyfield Gareth , Way Cheryl 
Published: August 2019

BackgroundAccess to emergency contraception (EC) has been a core component of attempts to address high teenage pregnancy rates in Wales. A national service was commissioned in 2011, allowing supply of EC free of charge from community pharmacies (CPs). This study investigated 5 years of the EC service, to describe its use and investigate changes in the pattern of use over time.MethodsSecondary analyses of data from all National Health Service funded CP EC consultations in Wales between 1 August 2012 and 31 July 2017 (n=181 359). Data comprised standardised clinical and demographic information, in the form of predefined service user responses, submitted for reimbursement by CPs.ResultsOverall service provision remained relatively consistent over the study period, with women aged between 13 and 59 years accessing the service. An association was observed between the time since unprotected sexual intercourse and the day on which the service was accessed (Χ2(18)=16 292.327, p<0.001). Almost half (47.9%) of requests were because no contraception had been used, with a strong and positive association for teenagers and women aged 40+ years. A statistically significant and increasing percentage of consultations were accompanied by further sexual health advice (r=0.7, p<0.01).ConclusionsAccess to EC through CPs is contributing to reducing teenage conceptions and termination rates. However, action is needed to increase contraception use in all age groups. Reduced availability of CP services on Sundays is a barrier to timely EC access. Findings support an expanded role for community pharmacists in provision of regular contraception.