bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Emerging fungal infections in solid organ transplant recipients: Guidelines of the American Society of Transplantation Infectious Diseases Community of Practice
Authors: Shoham Shmuel , Dominguez Edward A. ,   the AST Infectious Diseases Community of Practice
Published: March 2019

AbstractThese updated AST‐IDCOP guidelines review the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of emerging fungi after organ transplantation. Infections due to numerous generally innocuous fungi are increasingly recognized in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients, comprising about 7%‐10% of fungal infections in this setting. Such infections are collectively referred to as emerging fungal infections and include Mucormycetes, Fusarium, Scedosporium, and dematiaceous fungi among others. The causative organisms are diverse in their pathophysiology, uncommon in the clinical setting, have evolving nomenclature, and are often resistant to multiple commonly used antifungal agents. In recent years significant advances have been made in understanding of the epidemiology of these emerging fungal infections, with improved diagnosis and expanded treatment options. Still, treatment guidelines are generally informed by and limited to experience from cohorts of patients with hematological malignancies and/or solid and stem cell transplants. While multicenter randomized controlled trials are not feasible for these uncommon infections in SOT recipients, collaborative prospective studies can be valuable in providing information on the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, treatment strategies, and outcomes associated with the more commonly encountered infections.
Changes in spirits purchasing behaviours after privatisation of government‐controlled sales in Washington, USA
Authors: Kerr William C. , Ye Yu , Greenfield Thomas K. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractIntroduction and AimsThe privatisation of the Washington Liquor Monopoly in 2012 offered a unique opportunity to study spirits purchasing behaviour changes from a government to licensed system.Design and MethodsFour representative cross‐sectional surveys of adults aged 18 and older in Washington state were recruited between January 2014 and October 2015 (Wave 1, N = 1202; W2, N = 804; W3, N = 823; W4, N = 662). Analyses compared spirits purchasing behaviours before privatisation from retrospective reports to current reports in the areas of travel distance, spirits quality, purchase frequency and size of bottle. Respondents also directly reported on changes in convenience, selection and prices.ResultsNo significant changes were found in these aspects of purchasing. However, subgroup analyses found that younger drinkers 18–29 reduced travel distance and increased purchase frequency while drinkers aged 50 and older travelled further. Reduced travel distances were associated with grocery and drug stores while increased travel distances were associated with liquor superstores, wholesale stores and government stores in bordering states. Respondents reported that liquor purchasing was more convenient after privatisation but that the selection of spirits was better and prices were lower in the government‐controlled stores.Discussion and ConclusionsThe government monopoly stores were viewed as offering a wider selection of products and as having lower prices than those in the privatised system. The variety of store types in the licensed system allowed drinkers to select stores based on convenience, selection or prices, so that travel times increased for some buyers, presumably those seeking lower prices or a wider selection.
Endemic infection can shape exposure to novel pathogens: Pathogen co‐occurrence networks in the Serengeti lions
Authors: Fountain‐Jones Nicholas M. , Packer Craig , Jacquot Maude , Blanchet F. Guillaume , Terio Karen , Craft Meggan E. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractPathogens are embedded in a complex network of microparasites that can collectively or individually alter disease dynamics and outcomes. Endemic pathogens that infect an individual in the first years of life, for example, can either facilitate or compete with subsequent pathogens thereby exacerbating or ameliorating morbidity and mortality. Pathogen associations are ubiquitous but poorly understood, particularly in wild populations. We report here on 10 years of serological and molecular data in African lions, leveraging comprehensive demographic and behavioural data to test if endemic pathogens shape subsequent infection by epidemic pathogens. We combine network and community ecology approaches to assess broad network structure and characterise associations between pathogens across spatial and temporal scales. We found significant non‐random structure in the lion‐pathogen co‐occurrence network and identified both positive and negative associations between endemic and epidemic pathogens. Our results provide novel insights on the complex associations underlying pathogen co‐occurrence networks.
Local adaptation stops where ecological gradients steepen or are interrupted
Authors: Bridle Jon R. , Kawata Masakado , Butlin Roger K. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractPopulation genetic models of evolution along linear environmental gradients cannot explain why adaptation stops at ecological margins. This is because, unless models impose reductions in carrying capacity at species’ edges, the dominant effect of gene flow is to increase genetic variance and adaptive potential rather than swamping local adaptation. This allows the population to match even very steep changes in trait optima. We extend our previous simulations to explore two nonlinear models of ecological gradients: (a) a sigmoid (steepening) gradient and (b) a linear gradient with a flat centre of variable width. We compare the parameter conditions that allow local adaptation and range expansion from the centre, with those that permit the persistence of a perfectly adapted population distributed across the entire range. Along nonlinear gradients, colonization is easier, and extinction rarer, than along a linear gradient. This is because the shallow environmental gradient near the range centre does not cause gene flow to increase genetic variation, and so does not result in reduced population density. However, as gradient steepness increases, gene flow inflates genetic variance and reduces local population density sufficiently that genetic drift overcomes local selection, creating a finite range margin. When a flat centre is superimposed on a linear gradient, gene flow increases genetic variation dramatically at its edges, leading to an abrupt reduction in density that prevents niche expansion. Remarkably local interruptions in a linear ecological gradient (of a width much less than the mean dispersal distance) can prevent local adaptation beyond this flat centre. In contrast to other situations, this effect is stronger and more consistent where carrying capacity is high. Practically speaking, this means that habitat improvement at patch margins will make evolutionary rescue more likely. By contrast, even small improvements in habitat at patch centres may confine populations to limited areas of ecological space.
Immunogenicity of Potomac horse fever vaccine when simultaneously co‐administered with rabies vaccine in a multivalent vaccine or as two monovalent vaccines at separate sites
Authors: McKenzie H. C. , Funk R. A. , Trager L. , Werre S. R. , Crisman M. 
Published: March 2019

SummaryBackgroundPotomac horse fever (PHF) is a potentially fatal enterocolitis of horses caused byNeorickettsia risticii. The disease was originally recognised almost 40 years ago in the state of Maryland in theUS. It is now known to occur in many areas of North America, as well as having been described in South America and Europe. MonocomponentPHFvaccines are available, but clinical protection with vaccination has been reported to be inconsistent.ObjectivesThis study was designed to assess the immunogenicity of a commercially available Potomac Horse Fever (PHF) vaccine when administered as either a monovalentPHFvaccine simultaneously co‐administered with a separate monovalent Rabies vaccine or as a multivalentPHF/Rabies vaccine in horses.Study designRandomised parallel group trial.MethodsNinety‐one client or University owned horses participated in this open‐label randomised study, with 45 horses receiving the monovalent vaccines at separate sites and 46 receiving the multivalent vaccine at a single site. SerumPHF IFAtitres were determined twice prior to vaccination and at 1, 2 and 3 months after vaccination.ResultsBoth vaccination protocols exhibited poor immunogenicity, with only one‐third of all the animals demonstrating seroconversion, defined as an increase in titre of greater than 400 over baseline, at any time point after vaccination. The monovalentPHFvaccine exhibited significantly greater immunogenicity in terms of the number of horses exhibiting seroconversion, as compared to the multivalent vaccine, at one (20 vs. 11, P = 0.03) and two (18 vs. 9, p = 0.02) months post vaccination. The monovalentPHFvaccine also exhibited significantly greater immunogenicity in terms of the median (interquartile range)IFAtitres, as compared to the multivalent vaccine, at one (800 [200–1600] vs. 400 [200–800], P = 0.009) and 2 months (400 [200–1600] vs. 400 [100–800], P = 0.02) post vaccination. There was no significant difference between groups at 3 months in either seroconversion rate or medianIFAtiters.Main limitationsThis study did not assess the actual protective effects ofPHFvaccination but rather used the serologic response to vaccination as a surrogate biomarker of immunity.ConclusionsThe multivalentPHF/Rabies vaccine exhibited lower immunogenicity as compared to the monovalentPHFvaccine co‐administered with a separate Rabies vaccine.
Frailty, oral health and nutrition in geriatrics inpatients: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Shwe Phu Sabei , Ward Stephanie A. , Thein Paul M. , Junckerstorff Ralph 
Published: March 2019

BackgroundPoor nutritional status is a risk factor for the development of frailty. Likewise, oral health is independently associated with nutrition. The potential association between oral health and frailty in hospitalised elderly adults has, however, not previously been investigated.ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between oral health and frailty in hospitalised elderly adults and to identify the predictors of frailty.MethodA cross‐sectional study of 168 geriatric inpatients >65 years old was performed from August to December 2016. Patients of non‐English speaking background, with impaired cognition (MMSE <24), severe hearing or visual impairment or active delirium were excluded. Oral health, nutrition and frailty were assessed using previously validated tools, namely the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI), Mini Nutrition Assessment (MNA) and Reported Edmonton Frailty Scale (REFS). Other data collected included demographics, co‐morbidities, level of education and smoking/alcohol history.ResultsOn univariate analysis, the REFS score decreased with better nutritional status/higher MNA (P < 0.001) and better self‐reported oral health/higher GOHAI (P = 0.023). Nutritional status accounted for 17% of variability in frailty assessment. On multivariate analysis, co‐morbidities (P < 0.001), MNA (P < 0.001) and living in residential care (P < 0.001) were independent predictors of frailty. After adjusting for nutrition and co‐morbidities, self‐reported oral health was found to have an independent negative association with frailty (P = 0.019).ConclusionPoor self‐reported oral health was found to be independently associated with frailty. Further research should be directed at whether interventions to maintain good oral health can prevent or slow the progression of frailty.
Production and utilization of silages in tropical areas with focus on Brazil
Authors: Daniel João Luiz Pratti , Bernardes Thiago Fernandes , Jobim Clóves Cabreira , Schmidt Patrick , Nussio Luiz Gustavo 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThis manuscript brings an overview of the current challenges, advances and opportunities for silage production and utilization in tropical areas, with particular reference to Brazil and South America. Tropical crops have a high production potential during the rainy season; therefore, silage has a central role in feed preservation in the tropics. Use of silage all‐year round is expanding, since a significant number of dairy farmers are moving from grazing to housed systems, and the number of beef cattle finished in feedlots is increasing. Whole‐plant maize silage has been by far the main conserved forage in both dairy and beef operations, whereas the use of grain silages (maize and sorghum) is increasing. Recently, there has been great interest in snaplage (mainly comprised of maize kernels, cob and husk) due to the logistic benefits. Although pull‐type forage harvesters are still common in Brazilian dairies, the majority of beef feedlots use self‐propelled foragers by hiring custom services. Hence, the number of contractors with self‐propelled harvesters has significantly increased. The convenience of a secondary high‐quality forage in diets of dairy cows as well as the opportunity of including forage sources alternative to maize silage in rations for beef cattle warrants the resumption of research on tropical grass silages. Conservation of wet by‐products, environmental aspects of silage making and, especially, silage pathogenicity and food safety are also fields of research opportunity.
Evaluation of government‐supported provincial innovation competitiveness—Evidence from China
Authors: Wang Peng , Lin Xiaoyan , Li Shuoshuo 
Published: March 2019

AbstractGovernment support plays a crucial role in enhancing regional innovation capabilities and creating distinctive innovation clusters. Using the innovation competitiveness indicators of the 31 provinces in China, this paper examines the provincial government collaboration and innovation competitiveness values through Super‐SBM data envelopment analysis and analytic hierarchy process. Then, the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is employed to relate government collaboration to innovation competition and cooperation among provinces in hope of exploring the developmental trends of innovation cluster optimization. Research findings show that only 25.8% of the provincial government support proves effective for regional innovation, and the competitiveness values of the provinces are generally low and need to be improved. By incorporating the role of government support into the innovation competition and cooperation among provinces, there has been a tendency of innovation activities clustering in innovative regions and three major clusters have formed. The trend of clustering will continue to evolve outwards so that the overall innovation level of China would be enhanced.
Inhibition of microRNA‐124a attenuates non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease through upregulation of adipose triglyceride lipase and the effect of liraglutide intervention
Authors: Fang Qian‐Hua , Shen Qi‐Ling , Li Jin‐Jin , Yang Yang , Guo Juan‐Juan , Cheng Ying , Zhou Han‐Chi , Niu Wen‐Yan , Chen Li‐Ming , Li Chun‐Jun , Sun Bei 
Published: March 2019

AimGlucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists (GLP‐1Ras) have been reported to prevent non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but the potential mechanisms are still debated. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a prominent role in the field of metabolic disorders, including NAFLD. Our study was designed to further evaluate the effect of GLP‐1Ra liraglutide on NAFLD in terms of miRNAs.MethodsMicroRNA expression was evaluated by clustering analysis of microRNA arrays in high fat diet‐fed mice. The luciferase reporter assay was carried out to validate the cross‐talk between adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) and miR‐124a. MicroRNA‐124a mimics and inhibitor plasmids were transfected to study the role of miR‐124a in palmitate‐treated normal human liver cell line (HL‐7702). Liraglutide treatment was used to observe the effect of GLP‐1Ra on the miR‐124a/ATGL pathway.ResultsExpression of ATGL decreased and miR‐124a expression increased in hepatosteatosis in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, miR‐124a interacted with the 3′‐untranslated region of ATGL mRNA and induced its degradation. MicroRNA‐124a overexpression antagonized the effect of liraglutide on NAFLD by inhibiting ATGL expression, whereas miR‐124a knockdown led to elevated ATGL and sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) expression, and subsequently decreased lipid accumulation and inflammation in cells.ConclusionsMicroRNA‐124a overexpression contributes to the progression of NAFLD through reduction of ATGL expression, whereas miR‐124a knockdown can reverse this trend, suggesting that miR‐124a and its downstream target ATGL can be novel therapeutic targets of NAFLD. We reveal a novel mechanism by which liraglutide attenuates NAFLD by the miR‐124a/ATGL/Sirt1 pathway.
THE FLATNESS OF HISTORICITY
Authors: TRÜPER HENNING 
Published: March 2019

ABSTRACTThis article pursues an explication of the meaning of “historicity.” This explication is in part theoretical and in part historical, passing by the German conceptual history of the term, a Romantic‐era fairy tale with bearings on the matter, and structuralist theories of history, especially Claude Lévi‐Strauss's and Louis Althusser's. The “flatness” of historicity, the article argues, emerges from the absence of layers of explanatory and semantic depth that would provide a foundation for the term. The closer the concept of historicity was tied to notions of human existence and phenomenal and aesthetic experience in the hermeneutic tradition, the more such layers appeared to emerge. The structuralist argument started out from the impulse to reject this tradition. Diverse variations of this argument rally around an understanding of the reality of the historical in both set‐theoretical and semiotic terms. They dismantle a variety of manners in which historicity can be tied to notions of the phenomenal subject and of intentionality and existence/Dasein. The article asserts that the structuralist argument, in spite of a tendency to develop its own layers of seeming profundity, has a considerable degree of rigor and establishes the plausibility of the flatness of historicity. I conclude by discussing some of the positive implications of this notion, which in particular affect the manner in which the historical and the political interlock.
Preparation and characterization of multilayer Gd2O2S:Tb phosphor screen for X‐ray detection application
Authors: Li Wei , Kou Huamin , Zhang Wenhua , Ge Lin , Pan Hongming , Hu Zewang , Zhang Ying 
Published: March 2019

AbstractGd2O2S:Tb (GOS) phosphor screen, generally with a multilayer structure, has been widely used in digital X‐ray imaging. GOS phosphor screen is fabricated via a slip casting route, which is an effective method to obtain multilayer composites with good strength. The GOS slurry was prepared using the menhaden oil, polyvinyl butyral and PEG‐400 as dispersant, binder and plasticizer, respectively, and slip casted on a support layer. After the GOS scintillation layer is formed, a transparent polyethylene terephthalate film is covered on it as a protective layer. The X‐ray excited emission spectra of the obtained GOS phosphor screen is well match to the spectral response of a‐Si:H photodiode, and the spatial resolution was close to 3.7 LP/mm, which could meet the request of the commercial application.
Human Rights, Income and International Migration
Authors: Wong Pui‐Hang , Celbis Mehmet Güney 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThis study contributes to the literature of migration studies by addressing the question: why does international migration persist despite welfare improvements in migrant‐sending countries? We propose that the human rights condition of the origin countries is an important determinant of global migration. Although the human rights issue is not new to researchers in migration studies, the concern is primarily about the rights of migrants, refugees, asylum seekers or migrant workers in a host country. We undertake a bilateral panel data analysis to examine the pattern of global bilateral migration between 1995 and 2010. We find that international migration is positively associated with human rights conditions and income. Similar results are also obtained when we control for multilateral resistance and possible sample selection biases in a panel context. Our study implies that efforts to promote human rights may also be assessed in relation to their contribution to migration flows.
The effects of nano‐C‐S‐H with different polymer stabilizers on early cement hydration
Authors: Wang Fang , Kong Xiangming , Wang Dongmin , Wang Qibao 
Published: March 2019

AbstractA promising approach to accelerate cement hydration known as “seeding technology” has been discovered using nano‐particles to provide additional nucleation sites for growing of C‐S‐H. Two different types of polymer, polycarboxylate (PCE) and polysulfonate (PSE) were used as stabilizer to synthesize nano‐C‐S‐H via co‐precipitation process. The obtained C‐S‐H‐polymer composites were characterized by means of XRD, FTIR, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), TEM, dynamic laser scattering (DLS), and BET. DLS measurement shows that the particle size of the obtained C‐S‐H‐polymer suspension ranges from 82.6 to 589.9 nm. The results of DLS and BET show that the particle size of the C‐S‐H particles synthesized using PCE polymer as stabilizer is smaller than those synthesized with PSE polymer, and hence the specific surface area is much higher. FTIR and TGA results confirm the presence of the polymers in the obtained C‐S‐H composites particles. XRD results indicate that the presence of the polymers reduces the crystallinity of C‐S‐H due to the absence of the d002 peak at 2θ of 7°. The calorimetry results show that the main hydration peak of cement is dramatically increased by the addition of the C‐S‐H‐polymer composites. It is interestingly found that the acceleration effect of the C‐S‐H‐polymer composites is linearly proportional to the total surface area of the nanoparticles introduced into the cement pastes. At the same time, it is found that the secondary hydration peak, usually known as the sulfate‐depletion peak, is greatly advanced by addition of the C‐S‐H nano‐particles in comparison with the blank cement paste. The acceleration effect of the nano‐C‐S‐H is further verified in a pure C3S system.
A clinical study assessing the short‐term efficacy of combined in‐office/at‐home whitening treatment
Authors: Knezović Zlatarić Dubravka , Žagar Maja , Illeš Davor 
Published: March 2019

AbstractObjectiveThe purpose of this randomized clinical trial was to assess the efficacy of color change in combined in‐office/at‐home whitening.Materials and MethodsThirty participants were randomly divided into two groups: 15 received combined treatment in‐office whitening (6% hydrogen peroxide + 2 weeks at‐home whitening with 16% carbamide peroxide [CP]); 15 were assigned to control group. Instrumental color measurements were obtained before whitening (t0), immediately after in‐office whitening (tin‐office), after 1 week of active treatments (t1), and at the completion of the whitening treatment (t2). CIE L*a*b* values were recorded and CIE L*a*b* and CIEDE2000 color differences were calculated.ResultsThe color change at tin‐office was ΔEab = 4.7 and ΔE00 = 3.2 and overall color change of combined method at t2 was ΔEab = 8.2 and ΔE00 = 5.3 (P < 0.05). A statistically significant effect for the mean CIE L*a*b* and CIEDE2000 values was detected within time with the mean a*, b* and C′ values decreasing and mean h′ values increasing significantly (P < 0.05).ConclusionsCombined in‐office/at‐home whitening was effective. Whitening efficacy increased upon application of 16% CP in combined in‐office/at‐home treatment (P < 0.05).Clinical SignificanceThe statistically significant increase in color change recommends clinical application of combined in‐office/at‐home whitening treatment.