bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genome-Wide MicroRNA Expression Profiles in COPD: Early Predictors for Cancer Development
Authors: Keller Andreas , Fehlmann Tobias , Ludwig Nicole , Kahraman Mustafa , Laufer Thomas , Backes Christina , Vogelmeier Claus , Diener Caroline , Biertz Frank , Herr Christian , Jörres Rudolf A. , Lenhof Hans-Peter , Meese Eckart , Bals Robert ,   COSYCONET Study Group
Published: July 2018

Abstract
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) significantly increases the risk of developing cancer. Biomarker studies frequently follow a case-control set-up in which patients diagnosed with a disease are compared to controls. Longitudinal cohort studies such as the COPD-centered German COPD and SYstemic consequences-COmorbidities NETwork (COSYCONET) study provide the patient and biomaterial base for discovering predictive molecular markers. We asked whether microRNA (miRNA) profiles in blood collected from COPD patients prior to a tumor diagnosis could support an early diagnosis of tumor development independent of the tumor type. From 2741 participants of COSYCONET diagnosed with COPD, we selected 534 individuals including 33 patients who developed cancer during the follow-up period of 54 months and 501 patients who did not develop cancer, but had similar age, gender and smoking history. Genome-wide miRNA profiles were generated and evaluated using machine learning techniques. For patients developing cancer we identified nine miRNAs with significantly decreased abundance (two-tailed unpaired t-test adjusted for multiple testing P &lt; 0.05), including members of the miR-320 family. The identified miRNAs regulate different cancer-related pathways including the MAPK pathway (P = 2.3 × 10−5). We also observed the impact of confounding factors on the generated miRNA profiles, underlining the value of our matched analysis. For selected miRNAs, qRT-PCR analysis was applied to validate the results. In conclusion, we identified several miRNAs in blood of COPD patients, which could serve as candidates for biomarkers to help identify COPD patients at risk of developing cancer.
ShRNA‐mediated BMI‐1 gene silencing inhibits gastrointestinal stromal tumor cell telomerase activity and enhances apoptosis
Authors: Wang Xin , Wu Kun , Xiao Lin‐Kang , Wu Xing‐Ye 
Published: July 2018

AbstractGastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most frequently occurring mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. Telomerase activity is well acknowledged as a critical factor in oncogenesis. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the effect of BMI gene silencing on proliferation, apoptosis and telomerase activity in human GIST882 cells. GIST882 cells were transfected with a eukaryotic expression vector of an shRNA fragment. The silencing efficiency in the GIST882 cells was determined by RT‐qPCR and a western blot analysis. After the shRNA‐BMI‐1 plasmid was transfected into the GIST882 cells and nude mice, a cell counting kit‐8 (CCK‐8) assay and flow cytometry were utilized to detect the GIST882 cell proliferation, the apoptosis rate and the cell cycle. Tumor growth was observed by tumor xenograft in nude mice. Telomerase activity and telomere length were detected by a Southern blot and a target region amplified polymorphism. The shRNA‐BMI‐1 recombinant plasmid was successfully constructed. The mRNA and protein expression of the BMI‐1 gene in GIST882 cells was suppressed by the shRNA‐BMI‐1 recombinant plasmid. Meanwhile, BMI‐1 gene silencing inhibited the cell proliferation, tumor growth, and cell cycle in the GIST882 cells. However, cell apoptosis was increased and telomerase activity was decreased with the silencing of the BMI‐1 gene. Collectively, the results of this study suggest that silencing the BMI‐1 gene may provide a new target for the treatment of GISTs.
Nature Education for Sustainable Todays and Tomorrows (NEST): Hatching a New Culture in Schooling
Authors: Piersol Laura , Russell Linda , Groves Jenny 
Published: July 2018

AbstractWithin the North American public education system, institutionalised structures of schooling often prevent teachers from aligning their values with their practice when it comes to environmental education (Bowers, 1997; Weston, 2004). In response to this, this article will outline our lived experiences, as teachers and researcher, in disrupting the traditional school system as we work toward building a new culture in schooling through nature-based education. Acts of disruption that we will speak to include: going outside for learning on a regular basis, teaching for empowerment, involving families in the education, attempts to play with structural confines of schooling, and finding ways to stay empowered ourselves. Through this work, we have found that there is a rippling effect to the disruption that requires courage, grit, and resilience such that we do not slide back into conventional approaches. We have also become empowered in our practices through implementing these changes, watching our students become active stewards within their communities and beyond. We are learning deeply about the work of structural change within a public school district and offer words here as inspiration and support for others wishing to make changes within their own context.
A zonal safety analysis methodology for preliminary aircraft systems and structural design
Authors: Chen Z. , Fielding J. P. 
Published: July 2018

ABSTRACTZonal Safety Analysis (ZSA) is a major part of the civil aircraft safety assessment process described in Aerospace Recommended Practice 4761 (ARP4761). It considers safety effects that systems/items installed in the same zone (i.e. a defined area within the aircraft body) may have on each other. Although the ZSA may be conducted at any design stage, it would be most cost-effective to do it during preliminary design, due to the greater opportunity for influence on system and structural designs and architecture. The existing ZSA methodology of ARP4761 was analysed, but it was found to be more suitable for detail design rather than preliminary design. The authors therefore developed a methodology that would be more suitable for preliminary design and named it the Preliminary Zonal Safety Analysis (PZSA). This new methodology was verified by means of the use of a case study, based on the NASA N3-X project. Several lessons were learnt from the case study, leading to refinement of the proposed method. These lessons included focusing on the positional layout of major components for the zonal safety inspection, and using the Functional Hazard Analysis (FHA)/Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) to identify system external failure modes. The resulting PZSA needs further refinement, but should prove to be a useful design tool for the preliminary design process.
Benefits and Costs of Regulating and Restricting Chemicals: The European Union’s REACH System and Its Effects on the Austrian Economy
Authors: Getzner Michael , Schulz-Zak Denise 
Published: July 2018

The European Union’s regulation for chemical safety (REACH) addresses the registration, evaluation, assessment, and consequent authorization (or restriction) of chemicals which are potentially harmful for both public health and the environment. The current study aims at ascertaining the costs and benefits of the REACH framework for the Austrian economy under major uncertainties, and draws on a wide range of databases on public and workplace health, chemical accidents in households, and the potential environmental impacts of harmful chemicals.The uncertainties in the REACH system assessments of the effects of chemicals on health lie not only in the insufficiency of scientific evidence but also in the economic evaluation of effects on health, especially in regard to the value of statistical life (VSL), and the economic value of diseases attributed to chemicals.This benefit-cost analysis (BCA) of the REACH system in Austria therefore takes into account these manifold uncertainties by designing a conservative baseline scenario and by varying all determinants in comprehensive sensitivity analyses. Projected over a period of about 30 years, this paper provides evidence that the REACH system most probably leads to net benefits for the Austrian economy (benefit-cost ratio of about 10.6) even though many benefits are still highly uncertain or unknown.
Intellectual Investment, Dopaminergic Gene Variation, and Life Events: A Critical Examination
Authors: Strobel Alexander , Strobel Anja , Enge Sören , Fleischhauer Monika , Reif Andreas , Lesch Klaus-Peter , Anacker Kristin 
Published: July 2018

AbstractNeed for Cognition (NFC) and Openness to Ideas are intellectual investment traits that are characterized by a tendency to seek out, engage in and enjoy effortful cognitive activity. Little, however, is known about the extent to which they are influenced by genetic and environmental factors. With the present contribution, we aim at furthering our knowledge on the mechanisms underlying intellectual investment traits by following-up on a recent investigation of the role of dopaminergic gene variation in intellectual investment. Employing a standard approach that relied on null-hypothesis significance testing, we found that, first, two dopaminergic genetic variants interacted in modulating individual differences in NFC, but not in Openness to Ideas; that, second, negative life events played a role in the modulation of Openness to Ideas, but not of NFC; and that, third, negative life events as assessed using another measure were only marginally related to Openness to Ideas while positive life events were associated with both Openness to Ideas and NFC, with the latter effect being also dependent on DRD4 exon III genotype. However, employing a Bayesian approach, the assumption of a genetic effect on investment traits was overall not supported, while the assumption of a role of positive life events in the modulation of investment traits could be confirmed, with a tentative increment in the prediction of NFC by adding an interaction of positive life events and DRD4 variation to the main effect of positive life events. Our findings underscore the importance to use different approaches in the field of personality neuroscience. To gain deeper insight into the basis of personality traits does not only require to consider genetic as well as environmental influences and their interplay, but also requires more differentiated statistical analyses that can at least in part tackle the often inconsistent findings in this field.
WHOSE GAP COUNTS? THE ROLE OF YIELD GAP ANALYSIS WITHIN A DEVELOPMENT-ORIENTED AGRONOMY
Authors: SILVA JOÃO VASCO , RAMISCH JOSHUA J. 
Published: July 2018

SUMMARYYield gaps have become a useful tool for guiding development-related agronomy, especially in the global South. While critics have challenged some aspects of the yield gap methodology, and the relevance of food security advocacy based on yield gaps, very few studies question the actual relevance, application and scalability of yield gaps for smallholder farmers (and researchers) in the tropics. We assess these limitations using two contrasting case studies: maize-based farming systems in Western Kenya and rice-based farming systems in Central Luzon, the Philippines. From these two cases, we propose improvements in the use of yield gaps that would acknowledge both the riskiness of crop improvement options and the role that yield increases might play within local livelihoods. Participatory research conducted in Western Kenya calls into question the actual use and up-scaling of yield measurements from on-station agronomic trials to derive estimates of actual and water-limited yields in the region. Looking at maize yield gaps as cumulative probabilities demonstrates the challenges of assessing the real magnitude of yield gaps in farmers’ fields and of deciding whose yield gaps count for agricultural development in Kenya. In the case of rice-based farming systems, we use a historical dataset (1966–2012) to assess changes in rice yields, labour productivity, gross margin and rice self-sufficiency in Central Luzon, the Philippines. While large rice yield gaps persist here, there appear to be few incentives to close that gap once we consider the position of crop production within local livelihoods. In this context, economic returns to labour for farm work were marginal: labour productivity increased over time in both wet and dry seasons, but gross margins decreased in the wet season while no trend was observed for the dry season. Since most households were rice self-sufficient and further increases in crop production would offer minimal returns while relying increasingly on hired labour, we question who should close which yield gap. Our case studies show the importance of contextualising yield gaps within the broader livelihood context in which farmers operate. We propose that this should be done at farm and/or farming systems level while considering the risks associated with narrowing yield gaps and looking into multiple performance indicators.
Social Security and Gender Justice in South Africa: Policy Gaps and Opportunities
Authors: PLAGERSON SOPHIE , HOCHFELD TESSA , STUART LAUREN 
Published: July 2018

AbstractIf gender is neglected in the design and implementation of mainstream social welfare models, unequal social and economic outcomes for men and women tend to be reproduced. This paper contributes to debates about how social protection can contribute to promoting gender equality by considering the gendered redistributive and transformative effects of three types of social security instruments in South Africa: social assistance, unemployment insurance and public employment programmes. All the instruments have some pro-poor and gendered design innovations. The Child Support Grant has had better outcomes than the other instruments, but redistributive and transformative gender effects across the social security spectrum are disappointing. Limited social transformation is largely due to implementation inefficiencies and unresponsive institutions. To serve both economically redistributive and socially transformative ends, gender-sensitive synergies between social security instruments and with other multisectoral interventions could be strengthened, such as access to social services (especially quality child care) and access to basic services (such as water, electricity, transport and internet services).
Cherlin's conjecture for almost simple groups of Lie rank 1
Authors: GILL NICK , HUNT FRANCIS , SPIGA PABLO 
Published: July 2018

AbstractA permutation group G on a set Ω is said to be binary if, for every n ∈ ℕ and for every I, J ∈ Ωn, the n-tuples I and J are in the same G-orbit if and only if every pair of entries from I is in the same G-orbit to the corresponding pair from J. This notion arises from the investigation of the relational complexity of finite homogeneous structures.Cherlin has conjectured that the only finite primitive binary permutation groups are the symmetric groups Sym(n) with their natural action, the groups of prime order, and the affine groups V ⋊ O(V) where V is a vector space endowed with an anisotropic quadratic form.We prove Cherlin's conjecture, concerning binary primitive permutation groups, for those groups with socle isomorphic to PSL2(q), 2B2(q), 2G2(q) or PSU3(q). Our method uses the notion of a “strongly non-binary action”.
Cataleptic Effect of 61-91 Beta-Lipotropic Hormone in Rat
Authors: Motomatsu T. , Seidah M. Lis. N. , Chrétien M. 
Published: July 2018

SummaryIntraventricular administration of a peptide from ovine pituitaries whose structure is identical to the 61-91 C-terminal portion of beta-lipotropic hormone (61-91 beta-LPH) induced catalepsy, muscular hypertonus and analgesia in rats. Naloxone inhibited both the analgesic and cataleptic effects. l-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA) completely prevented the cataleptic effect. The cataleptic effect of 61-91 beta-LPH was potentiated by 1-5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP).
Comparison of three cryptosporidiosis outbreaks in Western Australia: 2003, 2007 and 2011
Authors: Ng-Hublin J. S. Y. , Combs B. , Reid S. , Ryan U. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractCryptosporidium is a protozoan parasite that causes the diarrhoeal disease, cryptosporidiosis. Although many species have been identified, the majority of human disease worldwide is caused by two species; Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium hominis. In Australia, data from the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS) show that cryptosporidiosis outbreaks occur every few years. To better understand the transmission, trends and nature of cryptosporidiosis outbreaks in Western Australia, epidemiological and genomic data from three cryptosporidiosis outbreaks in 2003, 2007 and 2011 were reviewed. The 2007 outbreak was the largest (n = 607) compared with the outbreaks in 2003 (n = 404) and 2011 (n = 355). All three outbreaks appeared to have occurred predominantly in the urban metropolitan area (Perth), which reported the highest number of case notifications; increases in case notifications were also observed in rural and remote areas. Children aged 0–4 years and non-Aboriginal people comprised the majority of notifications in all outbreaks. However, in the 2003 and 2007 outbreaks, a higher proportion of cases from Aboriginal people was observed in the remote areas. Molecular data were only available for the 2007 (n = 126) and 2011 (n = 42) outbreaks, with C. hominis the main species identified in both outbreaks. Subtyping at the glycoprotein 60 (gp60) locus identified subtype IbA10G2 in 46.3% and 89.5% of C. hominis isolates typed, respectively, in the 2007 and 2011 outbreaks, with the IdA15G1 subtype was identified in 33.3% of C. hominis isolates typed in the 2007 outbreak. The clustering of cases with the IdA15G1 subtype in the remote areas suggests the occurrence of a concurrent outbreak in remote areas during the 2007 outbreak, which primarily affected Aboriginal people. Both the C. hominis IbA10G2 and IdA15G1 subtypes have been implicated in cryptosporidiosis outbreaks worldwide; its occurrence indicates that the mode of transmission in both the 2007 and 2011 outbreaks was anthroponotic. To better understand the epidemiology, sources and transmission of cryptosporidiosis in Australia, genotyping data should routinely be incorporated into national surveillance programmes.
Prevalence of hepatitis E in liver transplant recipients in Greece
Authors: Sinakos Ε. , Gioula G. , Liava Ch. , Papa A. , Papadopoulou E. , Tsakni E. , Fouzas I. , Akriviadis E. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractHepatitis E virus (HEV) is a well-known cause of acute hepatitis. Immunocompromised subjects, including liver transplant recipients, are considered to be at risk for HEV infection, which occasionally follows a chronic course. The diagnosis of HEV infection in these patients must be based on HEV RNA testing, as serology has variable performance. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of HEV infection in liver transplant recipients in Greece by means of HEV RNA testing. Liver transplant recipients followed in the sole transplant centre in Greece were prospectively included. HEV RNA was detected by real-time RT-PCR. Positive samples were further analysed using a nested reverse transcription RT-PCR kit, which amplifies a 137-nucleotide sequence within the ORF2/ORF3 overlapping region to detect the HEV genotype and perform phylogenetic analysis. The mean age of the included patients (n = 76) was 54 years. The most common indication for liver transplantation was viral hepatitis (57%). The majority of the patients (75%) received a calcineurin inhibitor as part of their immunosuppressive regimen and had normal liver enzymes. HEV RNA was found positive in only 1/76 (1.3%) patient. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the sequence clustered into the HEV genotype 3 clade. This patient experienced an acute hepatitis flare, which nonetheless did not become chronic. The prevalence of HEV infection in liver transplant recipients in Greece is similar (1.3%) to that reported previously in other countries. Transplant physicians should be aware of this condition and its associated consequences.
Crop diversity effects on productivity and economics: a Northern Great Plains case study
Authors: Archer David W. , Liebig Mark A. , Tanaka Donald L. , Pokharel Krishna P. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractIncreasing crop diversity has been proposed to increase the sustainability of cropping systems. If producers are to adopt these systems, they should also be economically viable. In this study conducted near Mandan, North Dakota, four no-till cropping systems with varying levels of crop diversity were evaluated over a 12-yr period to quantify system effect on crop productivity, input use, production costs, and economic risks and returns. Cropping system treatments included a small grain–fallow rotation (SG–Fallow) and a continuous spring wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) rotation (Cont SW) as baseline low-diversity rotations, a small grain–winter wheat (T. aestivumL.)–sunflower (Helianthus annuusL.) rotation (SG–WW–Sun), a 5-yr rotation (Five Year) and a dynamic rotation (Dynamic). The SG–Fallow rotation was significantly less productive and less profitable on average than the other rotations, as measured by gross returns and net returns, respectively. However, SG–Fallow also used significantly less inputs than the other rotations. Production costs for the Cont SW and SG–WW–Sun rotations showed a significant increasing trend over time, while production costs for the Five Year rotation showed a significantly lower and slight decreasing trend over the period, with cost trends for the SG–Fallow and Dynamic rotations intermediate to these. Net returns tended to increase and relative economic risk tended to decrease as crop diversity increased from SG–Fallow and Cont SW to SG–WW–Sun, Five Year and the Dynamic system. Results from this study suggest that more diverse rotations can maintain or increase crop productivity and enhance economic viability.
Axial ratio bandwidth enhancement of a circularly polarized rectangular dielectric resonator antenna
Authors: Varshney Gaurav , Pandey V. S. , Yaduvanshi R. S. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThis paper presents a new technique for the enhancement of axial ratio (AR) bandwidth of a circularly polarized dielectric resonator antenna with a single feeding. To enhance the AR bandwidth, adjacent 3-dB AR passbands are merged by inserting the notches and conductive coating in the dielectric resonator. The dimensions of the notches and conductive coating are selected in such manner that impedance bandwidth remains approximately unchanged. The antenna provides the measured AR and impedance bandwidths of 55.22% and 66.45%, respectively.