bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Secular trends in end‐stage kidney disease requiring renal replacement therapy in Japan: Japanese Society of Dialysis Therapy Registry data from 1983 to 2016
Authors: Wakasugi Minako , Kazama Junichiro J , Narita Ichiei 
Published: April 2019

ABSTRACTAimWe aimed to describe secular trends in the incidence of end‐stage kidney disease (ESKD) requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) in Japan, and to assess the effect of population aging on the incidence of ESKD.MethodsThe national incidence of ESKD requiring RRT was calculated using published data and Japan's population statistics. Age‐standardized incidence was calculated by direct standardization using the World Standard Population. The average annual percentage of change (APC) in rates and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were computed for trends by joinpoint regression analysis. To assess the effect of population aging on the incidence of ESKD requiring RRT, we used the method proposed by Bashir and Estève, which splits the crude incidence into three components: population structure, population size, and age‐independent risk.ResultsAge‐standardized incidence trends (1983–1996) increased significantly in both men (APC 6.33, 95% CI: 5.39–7.29) and women (APC 5.25, 95% CI: 4.26–6.24). With a significant inflection point in 1996, the trend was stable for men (APC −0.16, 95% CI: −0.48 to 0.17) but significantly decreased for women (APC −1.98, 95% CI: −2.38 to −1.59) from 1996 to 2016. The main reason for the increase in those with ESKD requiring RRT has changed; before 1996, the change in age‐independent risk was the main contributor, but after 1996, the change in age structure with a higher proportion of older individuals was the main contributor.ConclusionThe increase in number of ESKD patients requiring RRT dramatically changed in Japan during the 1983 to 2016 period.
Glycerol‐3‐phosphate acyltransferase 6 controls filamentous pathogen interactions and cell wall properties of the tomato and Nicotiana benthamiana leaf epidermis
Authors: Fawke Stuart , Torode Thomas A. , Gogleva Anna , Fich Eric A. , Sørensen Iben , Yunusov Temur , Rose Jocelyn K. C. , Schornack Sebastian 
Published: April 2019

Summary

The leaf outer epidermal cell wall acts as a barrier against pathogen attack and desiccation, and as such is covered by a cuticle, composed of waxes and the polymer cutin. Cutin monomers are formed by the transfer of fatty acids to glycerol by glycerol‐3‐phosphate acyltransferases, which facilitate their transport to the surface.

The extent to which cutin monomers affect leaf cell wall architecture and barrier properties is not known. We report a dual functionality of pathogen‐inducible GLYCEROL‐3‐PHOSPHATE ACYLTRANSFERASE 6 (GPAT6) in controlling pathogen entry and cell wall properties affecting dehydration in leaves.

Silencing of Nicotiana benthamiana NbGPAT6a increased leaf susceptibility to infection by the oomycetes Phytophthora infestans and Phytophthora palmivora, whereas overexpression of NbGPAT6a‐GFP rendered leaves more resistant. A loss‐of‐function mutation in tomato SlGPAT6 similarly resulted in increased susceptibility of leaves to Phytophthora infection, concomitant with changes in haustoria morphology. Modulation of GPAT6 expression altered the outer wall diameter of leaf epidermal cells. Moreover, we observed that tomato gpat6‐a mutants had an impaired cell wall–cuticle continuum and fewer stomata, but showed increased water loss.

This study highlights a hitherto unknown role for GPAT6‐generated cutin monomers in influencing epidermal cell properties that are integral to leaf–microbe interactions and in limiting dehydration.
Febrile seizures with leukocytosis as a predictor for occult bacteremia
Authors: Ogawa Eiki , Shoji Kensuke , Kamidani Satoshi , Miyairi Isao 
Published: April 2019

AbstractBackgroundFebrile children 3–36 months old, who had a body temperature >39°C and white blood cell (WBC) count >15 000/mm3 were known to be at risk for occult pneumococcal bacteremia (OPB) in the pre‐pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) era. The positive predictive value of these criteria, however, decreased dramatically after the introduction of PCV, indicating a need for alternative criteria. A high rate of febrile seizures has been noted in children with OPB, suggesting that screening may still be practical in this population. We performed a retrospective analysis to evaluate factors that predict OPB in patients visiting the emergency department (ED) with febrile seizures.MethodsChildren 3–36 months old who visited the ED for febrile seizures and had blood cultures taken were included. Patients with underlying diseases were excluded from analysis. We performed statistical analyses comparing patient demographics according to the presence or absence of OPB.ResultsOne thousand and eighty‐two patients visited the ED with febrile seizure, and blood cultures were taken in 397, of whom 87% had received more than three doses of PCV. Of the nine patients with OPB, eight (89%) met the risk criteria. In contrast, only 12% (48/388) of those without OPB met the criteria. In this population, those who fulfilled the risk criteria were more likely to have OPB than those who did not (14.3% vs 0.3%; likelihood ratio, 7.17).ConclusionsHigh WBC count and fever may effectively predict OPB in pediatric patients with febrile seizure in the post‐PCV era.
TALKING ABOUT WORLDS*
Authors: Mandelkern Matthew 
Published: April 2019

AbstractI explore the logic of the conditional, using credence judgments to argue againstDualityand in favor ofConditional Excluded Middle. I then explore how to give a theory of the conditional which validates the latter and not the former, developing a variant on Kratzer (1981)'s restrictor theory, as well as a proposal which combines Stalnaker (1968)'s theory of the conditional with the theory of epistemic modals I develop in Mandelkern 2019a. I argue that the latter approach fits naturally with a conception of conditionals as referential devices which allow us to talk about particular worlds.
Integrative roles of nitric oxide and hydrogen sulfide in melatonin‐induced tolerance of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) plants to iron deficiency and salt stress alone or in combination
Authors: Kaya Cengiz , Higgs David , Ashraf Muhammad , Alyemeni Mohammed N. , Ahmad Parvaiz 
Published: April 2019

There seems to be no report in the literature on the effect of melatonin (MT) in relieving the detrimental effects of combined application of salt stress (SS) and iron deficiency (ID). Therefore, the effect of MT on the accumulation/synthesis of endogenous nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and how far these molecules are involved in MT‐improved tolerance to the combined application of ID and SS in pepper (Capsicum annuum L) were tested. Hence, two individual trials were set up. The treatments in the first experiment comprised: Control, ID (0.1 mM FeSO4), SS (100 mM NaCl) and ID + SS. The detrimental effects of combined stresses were more prominent than those by either of the single stress, with respect to growth, oxidative stress and antioxidant defense attributes. Single stress or both in combination improved the endogenous H2S and NO, and foliar‐applied MT (100 µM) led to a further increase in NO and H2S levels. In the second experiment, 0.1 mM scavenger of NO, 2‐(4‐carboxyphenyl)‐4,4,5,5‐tetramethylimidazoline‐1‐oxyl‐3‐oxide potassium salt (cPTIO) and that of H2S, hypotuarine (HT) were applied along with MT to get further evidence whether NO and H2S are involved in MT‐induced tolerance to ID and SS. MT combined with cPTIO and HT under a single or combined stress showed that NO effect was reversed by the NO scavenger, cPTIO, alone but the H2S effect was inhibited by both scavengers. These findings suggested that tolerance to ID and SS induced by MT may be involved in downstream signal crosstalk between NO and H2S.
Application of lipidomics in bivalve aquaculture, a review
Authors: Laudicella Vincenzo A. , Whitfield Phillip D. , Carboni Stefano , Doherty Mary K. , Hughes Adam D. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractBivalve production is a relevant aquaculture activity in Europe; however, it is not developing with same extents of other aquaculture sectors due to causes connected with regulation stringency, labour cost, space availability, habitat loss as well as variability in recruitment events, climate change and diseases. Understanding the physiology and nutritional requirements of bivalves during aquaculture activities might result beneficial to fuel up the development of the sector. Lipids are important molecules as they are relevant components of cellular membranes acting in several physiological processes like reproduction, growth, immunological responses and energy reserve. Nevertheless, lipid diversity is still poorly understood despite the research efforts of the last decades. Technological advancements provide tools to unveil such diversity. Lipidomics, a branch of metabolomics, is the science targeting the lipidome (e.g. the totality of biological lipids in an organism). In this review, lipidomics, and its related concepts, are discussed providing an overview of recent lipidomics studies on bivalves. Lipidomics could result in several advantages if compared with traditional lipid profiling techniques; however, aims and scopes of future lipidomics studies should be expanded. Here, possible future applications of lipidomics in the context of bivalve production are presented and discussed. Unveiling the lipidome of marine bivalves could aid disclosing important information regarding nutrition, biology, physiology and epidemiology on bivalves. This knowledge, once applied, has the potential to improve bivalve production and the resilience of the sector to environmental changes.
Morphological indices for canine spermatozoa based on the World Health Organization laboratory manual for human semen
Authors: Morselli Maria Giorgia , Colombo Martina , Faustini Massimo , Luvoni Gaia Cecilia 
Published: April 2019

AbstractAttempting to contribute to the development of a more objective morphological evaluation of dog spermatozoa, in this study the indices of multiple sperm defects (multiple abnormalities index [MAI]; teratozoospermic index [TZI]; sperm deformity index [SDI]) were calculated following the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. In Experiment I, the concordance of MAI, TZI and SDI with the proportions of morphologically normal spermatozoa (MNS) was evaluated in fresh ejaculated spermatozoa (dogs = 47). In Experiment II, the potential role of indices as prognostic values was assessed in spermatozoa of different origin and treatment (fresh ejaculated:n = 6; fresh epididymal:n = 6; frozen‐thawed ejaculated:n = 6) by their correlation with different semen parameters (motility, membrane integrity and acrosome status) and with an in vitro sperm function test. Samples with different proportions of MNS showed different values of SDI, the index that better represented the decline of sperm morphology in both fresh and frozen‐thawed samples (Exp. I and II;p < 0.05). No correlations between indices and semen parameters were observed (Exp. II), but when samples were evaluated collectively, negative correlations (SDI‐motility,p = 0.01; SDI‐acrosome integrity,p = 0.002) were found. Including all the defects of each spermatozoon, SDI might be a useful index during morphological analysis and better discriminates the increase in multiple defects. A more objective morphological evaluation for dog spermatozoa was achieved by the WHO method, and in vitro tests allowed to elucidate the validity of SDI as prognostic indicator of in vitro fertilizing potential.
Using webinars to extend the reach of soil learning in New South Wales: A first look
Authors: Jenkins Abigail , Beange Luke , Morris Stephen 
Published: April 2019

AbstractIncreasingly knowledge is shared using new web‐based channels. The use of these channels is relatively new in the realm of soil science. However, they may prove to be very useful for connecting time‐poor, geographically dispersed audiences in an efficient and cost‐effective way. There has been limited study of this form of knowledge sharing for natural science (let alone soil science). In New South Wales (NSW), Australia, the NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) has coordinated the Soil Network of Knowledge (SNoK) monthly webinar over 3 years, with over 40 webinars targeting an audience of next users of soil information. Aggregated data collected from these webinars indicated that the majority of information is used for professional development by participants. Whether this will eventually lead to on‐ground practice change because of the improved professional and technical knowledge of participants is still a moot point and will require further investigation over time. The information collected on attendance and participation showed that webinars are a good way to connect with some target audiences such as other government bodies that have a historical relationship with NSW DPI. However, other target audiences that NSW DPI has always found difficulty in engaging, such as private advisers, require more active overtures to drive participation. The growing subscriber base is encouraging.
Changes in donor antibody titer levels over time in a military group O low‐titer whole blood program
Authors: Bailey Jonathan D. , Fisher Andrew D. , Yazer Mark H. , Howard Jeffrey T. , Corley Jason B. , Miles Ethan A. , Cap Andrew P. 
Published: April 2019

BACKGROUNDThe ability to rapidly administer whole blood (WB) at the point of injury is an important intervention to save lives. This can be accomplished using low titer group O WB donors. Titers of immunoglobulin M anti‐A and anti‐B might change over time. This study describes titer testing in a large series of donors.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSData were collected retrospectively from the Armed Services Blood Program and the Theater Medical Data Store. Soldiers assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment were screened and titered upon completion of training or before deployment or during periodic unit readiness activities. A Ranger group O low‐titer (ROLO) donor was defined as having titers of both anti‐A and ‐B of less than 256 by immediate spin testing.RESULTSBetween May 2015 and January 2017, of a total of 2237 participating soldiers, 1892 (84.5%) soldiers underwent antibody titering once, while 266 (11.9%) were titered twice, 62 (2.8%) were titered three times, and 17 (0.8%) were titered at least four times. The mean age was 26.5 ± 6.5, and 2197 (98.2%) were male. A total of 69.5% of donors met ROLO donor criteria on the first test. The percentage of donors meeting universal‐donor criteria increased to 83.5% on the second test, 91.1% on the third test, and 100% on the fourth and fifth tests.CONCLUSIONSWith successive titer testing, it appears that individuals display a tendency toward lower titers. This may indicate that titer testing may not be required after the second test if donors have been identified initially as low titer.
Future of platelet formulations with improved clotting profile: a short review on human safety and efficacy data
Authors: Cancelas Jose A. 
Published: April 2019

BACKGROUNDPlatelet (PLT) transfusion is a widely used therapy in treating or preventing bleeding and hemorrhage in patients with thrombocytopenia or trauma. Compared to the relative ease of PLT transfusion, current practice for PLT storage at room temperature (RT) for up to 5 to 7 days is inefficient, costly, wasteful, and relatively unsafe.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSThis study was a review of major advances in PLT derivative products with improved hemostatic potential and safety feature.RESULTSRecent progress in understanding the PLT activation and host clearance mechanisms has led to reassessments of current and new storage conditions that employ refrigeration and/or cryopreservation to overcome storage lesions and significantly extend shelf life of PLTs with reduced risk of pathogen contamination.DISCUSSIONIt is anticipated that future PLT preservation involving cold, frozen, and/or pathogen reduction strategies in proper PLT additive solutions will enable longer term and safer PLT storage.
Optimizing whole blood storage: hemostatic function of 35‐day stored product in CPD, CP2D, and CPDA‐1 anticoagulants
Authors: Meledeo Michael Adam , Peltier Grantham C. , McIntosh Colby S. , Bynum James A. , Cap Andrew P. 
Published: April 2019

BACKGROUNDTransitioning from whole blood (WB) to components developed from efforts to maximize donor yield. Components are advantageous for specific derangements, but treating hemorrhage with components requires significantly more volume to provide similar effects to WB. Because storage lesion and waste remain problematic, this study examined hemostatic function of refrigerated WB stored for 35 days in anticoagulants citrate–phosphate‐dextrose‐adenosine (CPDA‐1), citrate–phosphate‐dextrose (CPD), or citrate–phosphate‐double dextrose (CP2D).METHODSRefrigerated WB units from healthy donors were sampled over 35 days. Global hemostatic parameters were measured by thromboelastometry, thrombogram, platelet aggregometry, and platelet adhesion to collagen under shear conditions. The effects of transfusion filtration and mixing 35‐day stored product with fresh WB were evaluated.RESULTSCountable platelets declined as aggregation clusters appeared in microscopy. While gross platelet agonist‐induced aggregation declined over time, normalization revealed aggregation responses in remaining platelets. Peak thrombin generation increased over time. Clot strength diminished over storage in tissue factor–activated samples (normalized by filtration of aggregates). Functional fibrinogen responses remained consistent throughout. Filtration was necessary to maintain consistent platelet adhesion to collagen beyond collection day. Few differences were observed between anticoagulants, and stored/fresh mixing studies normalized coagulation parameters.CONCLUSIONSWB is easier to collect, store, and transfuse. WB provides platelets, an oft‐neglected, critical resuscitation component, but their individual numbers decline as aggregates appear, resulting in diminished coagulation response. WB has better performance in these assays when examined at earlier time points, but expirations designated to specific anticoagulants appear arbitrary for hemostatic functionality, as little changes beyond 21 days regardless of anticoagulant.
Lifeline for the front lines: blood products to support the warfighter
Authors: Taylor Audra L. , Corley Jason B. , Swingholm Matthew T. , Sloan Melanie A. , McDonald Harry , Quesada Jose F. , Evans Christopher L. , Ceballos William A. 
Published: April 2019

BACKGROUNDHemorrhage is the leading cause of death on the battlefield. Damage control resuscitation guidelines in the US military recommend whole blood as the preferred resuscitation product. The Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP) has initiated low‐titer group O whole blood (LTOWB) production and predeployment donor screening to make whole blood more available to military forces.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSASBP donor centers updated procedures and labeling for LTOWB production. Donors are screened according to US Food and Drug Administration regulations and standard operating procedures. Group O donors are tested for anti‐A and anti‐B titer levels. Additionally, military personnel notified for pending deployment coordinate with their local ASBP donor center to complete whole blood donor prescreening. The process consists of completing a donor history questionnaire, processing of blood samples for blood group and infectious disease testing, and titer determination for group O personnel.RESULTSSince March 2016, 7940 LTOWB units have been manufactured at ASBP donor centers and shipped in support of combat operations. Additionally, ASBP donor centers have screened several thousand service members before deployment. From these screenings, the donor low titer rate was 68% and infectious disease reactive test rate was extremely low (≤0.004).CONCLUSIONWhole blood is now the preferred blood product for resuscitation of combat trauma patients. The ASBP partnered with combat forces to screen personnel before deployment. Additionally, LTOWB is manufactured and shipped in support of combat operations. These efforts are expanding the availability of LTOWB for the warfighter.
Evaluation of a lyophilized platelet‐derived hemostatic product
Authors: Bynum James A. , Meledeo Michael A. , Peltier Grantham C. , McIntosh Colby S. , Taylor Ashley S. , Montgomery Robbie K. , Reddoch–Cardenas Kristin M. , Getz Todd M. , Fitzpatrick Michael G. , Cap Andrew P. 
Published: April 2019

BACKGROUNDCurrent limitations of platelet shelf life to 5 days have led to an increasingly greater demand for hemostatic agents with greater longevity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the function of a lyophilized platelet‐derived hemostatic product (thrombosome [TS]) as a potential alternative to fresh platelets.METHODSPlatelets were collected from whole blood from healthy donors. TSs were reconstituted with water and added to various configurations of reassembled whole blood (platelets, plasma, and RBCs); measures included rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM), optical aggregometry, mitochondrial function, calibrated automated thrombogram, collagen adhesion under flow (shear flow assay), and flow cytometry.RESULTSIn ROTEM, no differences were observed between maximum clot formation values for contact pathway activation thromboelastometry tests with TSs or platelet samples. Significantly decreased aggregation was observed in the TSs versus platelets (p < 0.001 for all agonists). Flow cytometry measures demonstrated significant decreases in glycoprotein Ib expression and increases in phosphatidylserine expression in the TS group (p < 0.01). The calibrated automated thrombogram assay was suggestive (lag time and peak thrombin) that the TSs might have some thrombogenic properties. Measurements of mitochondrial function revealed that TSs had no functional mitochondria.CONCLUSIONIn this study, TSs were shown to have nonfunctional mitochondria. ROTEM measures revealed that the TSs had no impact on clot strength. Likewise, compared to platelets, the TSs displayed minimal aggregation, had significantly more phosphatidylserine (measure of activation status), but had the ability to adhere to a collagen surface under flow conditions and contribute to clot formation and induced greater thrombin generation.
Current state of transfusion in traumatic brain injury and associated coagulopathy
Authors: Stolla Moritz , Zhang Fangyi , Meyer Michael R. , Zhang Jianning , Dong Jing‐Fei 
Published: April 2019

ABSTRACTTraumatic brain injury (TBI)‐induced coagulopathy has long been recognized as a significant risk for poor outcomes in patients with TBI, but its pathogenesis remains poorly understood. As a result, current treatment options for the condition are limited and ineffective. The lack of information is most significant for the impact of blood transfusions on patients with isolated TBI and in the absence of confounding influences from trauma to the body and limbs and the resultant hemorrhagic shock. Here we discuss recent progress in understanding the pathogenesis of TBI‐induced coagulopathy and the current state of blood transfusions for patients with TBI and associated coagulopathy.