bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Plasma‐free amino acid profiles in dogs with hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Leela‐arporn Rommaneeya , Ohta Hiroshi , Tamura Masahiro , Nagata Noriyuki , Sasaoka Kazuyoshi , Dermlim Angkhana , Nisa Khoirun , Osuga Tatsuyuki , Morishita Keitaro , Sasaki Noboru , Takiguchi Mitsuyoshi 
Published: May 2019

AbstractBackgroundMetabolomic analysis using blood samples has been suggested to be useful for the early detection of cancer. Among metabolites, plasma‐free amino acid (PFAA) profiles are potential diagnostic biomarkers for several diseases including cancer. However, the relationship between PFAA concentrations and liver tumors in dogs remains unknown.ObjectiveTo determine the characteristics of PFAA profiles of dogs with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and correlated clinical features.AnimalsThirty‐four client‐owned dogs diagnosed with HCC (n = 26) and benign liver diseases (n = 8) and 11 age‐matched healthy dogs.MethodsProspective study using heparinized blood samples from fasted dogs. Plasma was deproteinized, and the concentrations of 21 amino acids were measured using an automated high‐performance liquid chromatography amino acid analyzer.ResultsPlasma glutamic acid concentrations were significantly different among groups (P < .0024 after Bonferroni correction). Compared to healthy dogs, dogs with HCC and benign liver diseases had significantly higher concentrations of glutamic acid by post hoc analysis. However, no significant difference in the PFAA profiles of HCC and benign liver diseases were detected. In addition, preoperative and postoperative PFAA profiles of dogs with HCC were not significantly different.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceIncreased glutamic acid concentrations might play a role in the development or be a consequence of liver tumor formation. However, PFAA profiles of HCC could not be differentiated from those of benign lesions. In addition, glutamic acid concentrations did not change after surgical resection. These results indicate that PFAA profiles may not be useful biomarkers for detecting HCC in dogs.
Fungal disease and temperature alter skin microbiome structure in an experimental salamander system
Authors: Muletz‐Wolz Carly R. , Fleischer Robert C. , Lips Karen R. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractPathogens compete with host microbiomes for space and resources. Their shared environment impacts pathogen–microbiome–host interactions, which can lead to variation in disease outcome. The skin microbiome of red‐backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) can reduce infection by the pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) at moderate infection loads, with high species richness and high abundance of competitors as putative mechanisms. However, it is unclear if the skin microbiome can reduce epizootic Bd loads across temperatures. We conducted a laboratory experiment to quantify skin microbiome and host responses (P. cinereus: n = 87) to Bd at mimicked epizootic loads across temperatures (13, 17 and 21°C). We quantified skin microbiomes using 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding and identified operational taxonomic units (OTUs) taxonomically similar to culturable bacteria known to kill Bd (anti‐Bd OTUs). Prior to pathogen exposure, temperature changed the microbiome (OTU richness decreased by 12% and the abundance of anti‐Bd OTUs increased by 18% per degree increase in temperature), but these changes were not predictive of disease outcome. After exposure, Bd changed the microbiome (OTU richness decreased by 0.1% and the abundance of anti‐Bd OTUs increased by 0.2% per 1% increase in Bd load) and caused high host mortality across temperatures (35/45: 78%). Temperature indirectly impacted microbiome change and mortality through its direct effect on pathogen load. We did not find support for the microbiome impacting Bd load or host survival. Our research reveals complex host, pathogen, microbiome and environmental interactions to demonstrate that during epizootic events the microbiome will be unlikely to reduce pathogen invasion, even for putatively Bd‐resistant species.
Genetic basis of amphibian larval development along a latitudinal gradient: Gene diversity, selection and links with phenotypic variation in transcription factor C/EBP‐1
Authors: Meyer‐Lucht Yvonne , Luquet Emilien , Jóhannesdóttir Fríða , Rödin‐Mörch Patrik , Quintela María , Richter‐Boix Alex , Höglund Jacob , Laurila Anssi 
Published: May 2019

AbstractEctotherm development rates often show adaptive divergence along climatic gradients, but the genetic basis for this variation is rarely studied. Here, we investigated the genetic basis for phenotypic variation in larval development in the moor frog Rana arvalis from five regions along a latitudinal gradient from Germany to northern Sweden. We focused on the C/EBP‐1 gene, a transcription factor associated with larval development time. Allele frequencies at C/EBP‐1 varied strongly among geographical regions. Overall, the distribution of alleles along the gradient was in concordance with the dual post‐glacial colonization routes into Scandinavia, with a large number of alleles exclusively present along the southern colonization route. Only three of 38 alleles were shared between the routes. Analysis of contemporary selection on C/EBP‐1 showed divergent selection among the regions, probably reflecting adaptation to the local environmental conditions, although this was especially strong between southern and northern regions coinciding also with lineages from different colonization routes. Overall, the C/EBP‐1 gene has historically been under purifying selection, but two specific amino acid positions showed significant signals of positive selection. These positions showed divergence between southern and northern regions, and we suggest that they are functionally involved in the climatic adaptation of larval development. Using phenotypic data from a common garden experiment, we found evidence for specific C/EBP‐1 alleles being correlated with larval development time, suggesting a functional role in adaptation of larval development to large‐scale climatic variation.
Comparative power law analysis for the spatial heterogeneity scaling of the hot‐spring microbiomes
Authors: Li Lianwei , Ma Zhanshan (Sam) 
Published: May 2019

AbstractSpatial heterogeneity is a fundamental property of any natural ecosystems, including hot spring and human microbiomes. Two important scales that spatial heterogeneity exhibits are population and community scales, and Taylor's power law (PL) and its extensions (PLEs) offer ideal quantitative models to assess population‐ and community‐level heterogeneities. Here we analyse 165 hot spring microbiome samples at the global scale that cover a wide range of temperatures (7.5–99°C) and pH levels (3.3–9). We explore a question of fundamental importance for measuring the spatial heterogeneity of the hot‐spring microbiome and further discuss their ecological implications: How do critical environmental factors such as temperature and pH influence the scaling of community spatial heterogeneity? We are particularly interested in the existence of a universal scaling model that is independent of environmental gradients. By applying PL and PLEs, we were able to obtain such scaling parameters of the hot spring at both community and population levels, which are temperature‐ and pH‐invariant. These findings suggest that while the hot‐spring microbiomes located at different regions may have different environmental conditions, they share a fundamental heterogeneity scaling parameter, analogically similar to the gravitational acceleration on Earth, which may vary slightly depending on altitude and latitude, but is invariant overall. In contrast, similar to the physics of the Moon and Earth, which have different gravitational accelerations, the hot spring and human microbiomes can have different scaling parameters as demonstrated in this study.
Is anuria prior to pediatric renal transplantation associated with poor allograft outcomes?
Authors: Alam Zaheer , VanderBrink Brian A. , Brewer Nathalie , Hooper David , Tiao Greg , Alonso Maria , Nathan Jaimie , DeFoor W. Robert , Sheldon Curtis , Reddy Pramod P. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractIntroductionAnuria from end‐stage renal disease leads to a defunctionalized bladder and may pose technical challenges at the time of renal transplantation. Anuria’s effect on bladder function after renal transplantation is considered to be minimal in adults, although a paucity of evidence is available in children. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of anuria prior to pediatric renal transplantation for ESRD due to medical renal disease on allograft outcome.MethodsWe performed a retrospective review of pediatric patients who underwent renal transplantation for medical renal disease at our institution between 2005 and 2016. Demographics and clinical data were assessed. We also compared GFR at 1 year post‐transplant for medical renal patients with history of anuria and those without.ResultsTwenty‐one patients fulfilled our inclusion criteria with median duration of anuria was 10 months. Preoperative VCUG was available in five patients and their bladder capacity was 29% of expected bladder capacity for age (range 8%‐41%). Anticholinergic therapy was prescribed in six patients (28%) for a mean duration of 5 months (range 1‐16 months). Comparison of GFR at 1 year post‐transplant in anuria group and those without anuria showed no difference (69 vs 75 mL/min, P = 0.37). No correlation was observed between duration of anuria and post‐transplant GFR.ConclusionThe majority of children in our pretransplant anuria cohort did not develop bladder dysfunction after renal transplantation. No difference was observed between GFR at 1 year when comparing anuric to non‐anuric transplant recipients of medical renal disease etiology.
Effect of temperature on infection and development of powdery mildew on cucumber
Authors: Trecate L. , Sedláková B. , Mieslerová B. , Manstretta V. , Rossi V. , Lebeda A. 
Published: May 2019

Podosphaera xanthii and Golovinomyces orontii are the causal agents of cucurbit powdery mildew. The effect of temperature on conidial germination, infection and sporulation was studied under controlled conditions. Conidia were inoculated on cucumber leaf discs, and incubated at six constant temperatures (from 10 to 35 °C in 5 °C steps) for 3 to 72 h to evaluate conidial germination and infection, and for 6–15 days to evaluate sporulation intensity. Germination took place at all tested temperatures, but was close to zero at 35 °C. The longest germ tubes measured in this experiment were 141.74 μm for the secondary germ tube of P. xanthii at 20 °C after 48 h of incubation, and 67.92 μm for G. orontii for the primary germ tube at 20 °C after 48 h of incubation. The optimal temperatures for conidial germination, infection and sporulation were 24.4, 25.7 and 22.3 °C, respectively, for P. xanthii, and 17.9, 17.3 and 14.9 °C, respectively, for G. orontii. Equations were developed to describe conidial germination with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.85 and 0.90 for P. xanthii and G. orontii, respectively. Infection equations resulted in R2 of 0.94 and 0.93 for P. xanthii and G. orontii, respectively; and for sporulation, R2 of 0.75 and 0.76 for P. xanthii and G. orontii respectively, as a function of temperature. These results can be used to develop models for the risk of cucurbit powdery mildew under field conditions.
China's new generation trade agreements: Importing rules to lock in domestic reform?
Authors: Eckhardt Jappe , Wang Hongyu 
Published: May 2019

AbstractSince the beginning of the 21st century we have witnessed a proliferation of Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) in Asia Pacific. China has been at the forefront of this development. Initially, China's PTAs were very shallow and mainly aimed at building friendly relationships with developing countries. However, over time, China has started to negotiate deeper PTAs with developing and developed countries alike. This notable shift has thus far been understood to result from four broad motivations: China's desire to access key export markets; the facilitation of regional production networks; to address resource security concerns; and/or to further geostrategic interests and political influence. We propose that these motives are not sufficient to fully account for China's new generation trade agreements. We suggest that China is increasing its integration into the world economy to push for domestic marketization and reform by credibly committing to trade liberalization through PTAs. Deep and comprehensive PTAs oblige a country to follow a set of rules that leave little leeway to violate the terms. In order to successfully implement and enforce PTA commitments, China has also gradually strengthened its regulatory state by investing in regulatory capacity and capability in the field of trade policy. We test the plausibility of our argument through an in‐depth analysis of the PTAs signed by China since 2000 and find evidence that China's PTAs are indeed in part driven by a desire to lock in domestic economic reform, which has gone hand in hand with a strengthening of its regulatory state.
Market Definition Using Consumer Characteristics and Cluster Analysis
Authors: Boshoff Willem , van Jaarsveld Rossouw 
Published: May 2019

AbstractCompetition authorities commence merger investigations with a definition of the relevant market, i.e. the collection of products or regions that compete with the firm(s) under investigation. Market definition relies on evidence of cross‐price elasticity. When the econometric estimation of cross‐price elasticities is not possible, analysts have to rely on qualitative assessment and a set of quantitative tools relying only on a subset of information or less precise quantitative evidence. Under these conditions, a statistical analysis of the similarity of consumer characteristics of different products can offer a useful addition to this toolkit. Cluster analysis can be used to identify meaningful groups of substitutes (and hence markets) on the basis of homogeneity of products’ consumer characteristics. Cluster analysis is useful not only in drawing market boundaries, but also in ranking the competitors within the boundaries. In a recent radio merger case in South Africa, competition authorities and counter parties struggled to obtain systematic evidence for market definition and ultimately relied on mostly qualitative impressions based on a range of evidence from industry experts and company strategy documents. The substitutes suggested by the cluster analysis matches the closest substitutes suggested by the Competition Tribunal, although the results do not support the Tribunal's list of weaker substitutes.
Effects of different management practices on Portulaca oleracea emergence in soyabean
Authors: Khakzad R , Alebrahim M T , Tobeh A , Oveisi M , Valiolahpor R , Tseng T M 
Published: May 2019

SummaryPortulaca oleracea (common purslane) is a summer annual weed with wide geographic distribution and is problematic in many crops worldwide. Field experiments were conducted to determine the effects of different management practices on P. oleracea emergence in soyabean fields. Two tillage systems [conventional tillage (CT) and no‐till (NT)], three soyabean seeding rates (SR) (200 000, 300 000 and 400 000 seeds ha−1) and three imazethapyr doses (0, 50, and 100 g a.i. ha−1 applied pre‐emergence) were considered as experimental factors. Portulaca oleracea emergence was affected by management practices including tillage system, soyabean SR and imazethapyr dose. Conventional tillage required a thermal time (TT) of 195.95 and 221.30 d °C to reach 50% emergence in 2016 and 2017, respectively, while for NT, the respective TT requirements were 182.34 and 203.32 d °C. On increasing soyabean SR from 200 000 to 400 000 seeds ha−1, the TT requirements for 50% emergence (T50) of P. oleracea also increased. The T50 at the herbicide dose of 100 g a.i. ha−1 was 193.05 and 220.67 d °C in 2016 and 2017, respectively, while for the non‐herbicide treatment, the respective TT requirements were 165.98 and 202.94 d °C. From an integrated weed management perspective, a combination of CT with a SR of 400 000 seeds ha−1 and a 100 g a.i. ha−1 imazethapyr dose not only resulted in the lowest P. oleracea seedling density m−2 but also caused the longest delay in the time to reach the T50. Findings from our study may facilitate the development of effective P. oleracea management strategies.
Changes in, and factors associated with, frequency of sex in Britain: evidence from three National Surveys of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal)
Authors: Wellings Kaye , Palmer Melissa J , Machiyama Kazuyo , Slaymaker Emma 
Published: May 2019

AbstractObjectivesTo examine changes over time in the reported frequency of occurrence of sex and associations between sexual frequency and selected variables.DesignRepeat, cross sectional, population based National Surveys of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal-1, Natsal-2, and Natsal-3).SettingBritish general population.Participants18 876 men and women aged 16-59 and resident in Britain were interviewed in Natsal-1, completed in 1991; 11 161 aged 16-44 years in Natsal-2, completed in 2001, and 15 162 aged 16-74 years in Natsal-3, completed in 2012. Comparisons of actual and preferred sexual frequency in men and women aged 16-44 (the age range common to all surveys) between the three surveys. Factors associated with sexual frequency of at least once a week were examined using Natsal-3 data.Main outcome measuresSexual activity in the past month; frequency of sex in the past month; preferred frequency of sex.ResultsMedian number of occasions of sex in the past month was four in Natsal-1 and Natsal-2 and three in Natsal-3 among women; and three in Natsal-1, Natsal-2, and Natsal-3 among men. The proportion reporting no sex in the past month fell between Natsal-1 and Natsal-2 (from 28.5% to 23.0% in women and from 30.9% to 26.0% in men) but increased significantly in Natsal-3 (to 29.3% in women and 29.2% in men). The proportion reporting sex 10 times or more in the past month increased between Natsal-1 and Natsal-2, from 18.4% to 20.6% in women and from 19.9% to 20.2% in men, but fell in Natsal-3, to 13.2% in woman and 14.4% in men. Participants aged 25 and over, and those married or cohabiting, experienced the steepest declines in sexual frequency (P values for interaction <0.05). Alongside the declines in sexual frequency, there was an increase in the proportion reporting that they would prefer sex more often. Age adjusted odds ratios showed that men and women in better physical and mental health had sex more frequently, as did those who were fully employed and those with higher earnings.ConclusionsFrequency of sex has declined recently in Britain, more markedly among those in early middle age and those who are married or cohabiting. The findings and their implications need to be explained in the context of technological, demographic, and social change in Britain and warrant further investigation.
Dietary Approaches to the Management Of type 2 Diabetes (DIAMOND): protocol for a randomised feasibility trial
Authors: Morris Elizabeth , Aveyard Paul , Dyson Pamela , Noreik Michaela , Bailey Clare , Fox Robin , Hoffman Kathy , Tan Garry D , Jebb Susan A 
Published: May 2019

IntroductionSome clinicians have observed that low-carbohydrate, low-energy diets can improve blood glucose control, with reports of remission from type 2 diabetes in some patients. In clinical trials, support for low-carbohydrate, low-energy diets has been provided by specialist staff and these programmes are unsuitable for widespread deployment in routine primary care. The aim of this trial is to test whether a newly developed behavioural support programme can effectively deliver a low-energy, low-carbohydrate diet in a primary care setting.Methods and analysisThis is a feasibility randomised controlled trial (RCT) with embedded qualitative study. Thirty adult patients with type 2 diabetes and body mass index ≥30 kg/m2in 2–4 general practices will be randomised 2:1 intervention or control and followed up over 12 weeks. The intervention diet comprises 8 weeks of a low-carbohydrate food-based diet providing around 800 kcal/day, followed by 4 weeks of weight maintenance. This programme will be delivered by practice nurses, who will also support patients through goal-setting, motivation and self-monitoring across four appointments, and provide a self-help booklet with recipes, shopping lists and other behavioural support. Primary outcome measures of feasibility will be met if CIs do not cross the following proportions: that 60% of intervention group participants attempt the dietary intervention, healthcare professionals conduct the intervention delivery session with at least 60% of essential elements present and 60% of participants attend the final follow-up session. Secondary outcome measures will assess process and qualitative measures, as well as exploratory outcomes including change in haemoglobin A1c and change in weight.Ethics and disseminationThis study has been granted ethical approval by the National Research Ethics Service, South Central Oxford B Research Ethics Committee (ref: 18/SC/0071). The study results will inform whether to progress to a full-scale RCT to test the efficacy of offering this programme for patients with type 2 diabetes in primary care.Trial registration numberISRCTN62452621; Pre-results.
The Web of False Information
Authors: Zannettou Savvas , Sirivianos Michael , Blackburn Jeremy , Kourtellis Nicolas 
Published: May 2019

A new era of Information Warfare has arrived. Various actors, including state-sponsored ones, are weaponizing information on Online Social Networks to run false-information campaigns with targeted manipulation of public opinion on specific topics. These false-information campaigns can have dire consequences to the public: mutating their opinions and actions, especially with respect to critical world events like major elections. Evidently, the problem of false information on the Web is a crucial one and needs increased public awareness as well as immediate attention from law enforcement agencies, public institutions, and in particular, the research community.
In this article, we make a step in this direction by providing a typology of the Web’s false-information ecosystem, composed of various types of false-information, actors, and their motives. We report a comprehensive overview of existing research on the false-information ecosystem by identifying several lines of work: (1) how the public perceives false information; (2) understanding the propagation of false information; (3) detecting and containing false information on the Web; and (4) false information on the political stage. In this work, we pay particular attention to political false information as: (1) it can have dire consequences to the community (e.g., when election results are mutated) and (2) previous work shows that this type of false information propagates faster and further when compared to other types of false information. Finally, for each of these lines of work, we report several future research directions that can help us better understand and mitigate the emerging problem of false-information dissemination on the Web.