bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Chronological changes in skeletal muscle mass following living‐donor liver transplantation: An analysis of the predictive factors for long‐term post‐transplant low muscularity
Authors: Pravisani Riccardo , Soyama Akihiko , Isola Miriam , Sadykov Nariman , Takatsuki Mitsuhisa , Hidaka Masaaki , Adachi Tomohiko , Ono Shinichiro , Hara Takanobu , Hamada Takashi , Baccarani Umberto , Risaliti Andrea , Eguchi Susumu 
Published: February 2019

AbstractAimSarcopenia is associated with high morbidity and mortality before and after liver transplantation (LT). The aim of the study was to evaluate the chronological changes in skeletal muscle mass (SMM) at different time points post‐LT and to identify the risk factors for long‐term low SMM.MethodsThe skeletal muscle index at L3 level (L3‐SMI) was used for muscle mass measurement, and the recommended cutoff values of the Japanese Society of Hepatology guidelines were used as criteria for defining low muscularity.ResultsPreoperative low SMM was recognized in 35.1% of cases. At 1 year after LDLT, 28.9% of patients showed low SMM, without any significant prevalence change in comparison with the preoperative phase (35.1%) or 1 month post‐LT (30.7%). Post‐LT intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (OR 1.14, P = 0.03), biliary complications (OR 5.88, P = 0.02), pre‐LT low SMM (OR 3.36, P = 0.05), and 1 month post‐LT low SMM (OR 10.16, P < 0.01) were found to be independent risk factors for low SMM at 1 year post‐LT in multivariate analysis. The development of de novo low SMM at 1 year post‐LT was a negative prognostic factor for OS (HR 9.08, P = 0.001).ConclusionsIntensive care unit length of stay, biliary complications and preoperative and 1 month post‐LT low SMM were predictive factors for long‐term low SMM. Newly developed low SMM at 1 year post‐LT was a prognostic factor for a poor patient survival.
A proliferation‐inducing ligand increase precedes IgA nephropathy recurrence in kidney transplant recipients
Authors: Martín‐Penagos Luis , Benito‐Hernández Adalberto , San Segundo David , Sango Cristina , Azueta Ainara , Gómez‐Román Javier , Fernández‐Fresnedo Gema , López‐Hoyos Marcos , Ruiz Juan C. , Rodrigo Emilio 
Published: February 2019

AbstractBackgroundIgA nephropathy (IgAN) may recur in kidney transplant recipients. B‐cell‐activating factor (BAFF), a proliferation‐inducing ligand (APRIL), and α‐defensins are involved in the pathogenesis of native IgAN; however, their role on IgAN recurrence has not been previously analyzed.MethodsThirty‐five patients with IgAN who received a kidney transplant in our center between January 1, 1993, and December 31, 2015, were included. Recurrence was diagnosed and ruled out in 14 and 11 patients, respectively, by indication biopsies. Pre‐transplant, 6‐month, 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year sera selected to measure BAFF, APRIL, and defensin by ELISA.ResultsSix months post‐transplantation, APRIL levels (300.1 vs 1203.8 pg/mL, P = 0.033) and the mean APRIL values from 6 months to 3 years (409.8 vs 1258.0 pg/mL, P = 0.003) were higher in recurrent patients. Both 6‐month APRIL levels (AUC‐ROC 0.753, P = 0.033) and mean APRIL values (AUC‐ROC 0.844, P = 0.004) discriminated patients with recurrence risk. By logistic regression, APRIL at 6 months (P = 0.044) and mean APRIL (P = 0.021) related to the risk of IgAN recurrence independently. Neither BAFF nor defensin related to recurrence.ConclusionsSerum APRIL increased at 6 months and mean APRIL remained higher the first 3 years in patients in whom IgAN was going to recur.
Erysiphe diffusa causing powdery mildew on Mimosa caesalpiniifolia in Brazil: A soya bean pathogen found on an important native Brazilian tree
Authors: Luz Juliane , Barreto Robert W. , Macedo Davi M. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractMimosa caesalpiniifolia: Fabaceae (sansão‐do‐campo or sabiá, in Brazil) is a small tree or shrub native to the Brazilian semi‐arid forest and widely used as a hedge plant in Brazil. Although of economic relevance, little is known of fungal pathogens infecting this plant. Recently, plants growing in an urban situation at Ouro Preto, and also on the roadside in Viçosa (state of Minas Gerais, Brazil), were found to be severely attacked by a powdery mildew which led to progressive leaf blight and serious defoliation. Based on morphology and molecular phylogenetic analysis of nuclear rDNA sequences, the fungus was identified as Erysiphe diffusa—a pathogen best known attacking soya bean, particularly in highland plantings.
First report of Lasiodiplodia theobromae and Fusarium proliferatum causing teak die back in Costa Rica
Authors: Méndez‐Álvarez Dawa , Rodríguez Arantxa , Badilla‐Valverde Yorleny , Murillo‐Gamboa Olman 
Published: February 2019

AbstractTeak plantation productivity and economic value have risen significantly since 2000; however, teak dieback syndrome in commercial plantations is becoming worse every year. We isolated, characterized and identified the causal agents of teak dieback, based on morphological characteristics in culture and DNA sequencing. The pathogenicity of Lasiodiplodia theobromae and Fusarium proliferatum (separate and together) was confirmed in inoculations of teak elite genotypes, fulfilling Koch's postulates. To our knowledge, this is the first report of L. theobromae and F. proliferatumcausing teak dieback syndrome in Costa Rica.
Real‐world insights into risk of developing cardiovascular disease following GnRH agonists versus antagonists for prostate cancer: a methodological protocol to a study using five European databases
Authors: George Gincy , Scailteux Lucie‐Marie , Garmo Hans , Balusson Frédéric , Cardwell Christopher , Coster Greet De , Schutter Harlinde De , Kuiper Josephina G. , McMenamin Úna , Verbeeck Julie , Van Hemelrijck Mieke 
Published: February 2019

AbstractOne of the more recently investigated adverse long‐term side effects of gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists for prostate cancer (PCa) is cardiovascular disease (CVD). Studies suggest lower risk of CVD following GnRH antagonists (degarelix) than GnRH agonists. This protocol describes precise codes used to extract variables from five European databases for a study that compares risk of CVD following GnRH agonists and antagonists for PCa.PCa men on primary GnRH agonists or antagonists were identified from the UK THIN (The Health Improvement Network) database, National Health Service (NHS) Scotland, Belgian Cancer Registry (BCR), Dutch PHARMO Database Network and French National Database (SNIIRAM). Cohort entry was defined as date of treatment initiation. CVD event was defined as any first incident or fatal CVD after cohort entry. Readcodes in THIN and ICD codes in NHS Scotland, BCR, PHARMO and SNIIRAM were used to extract variables. Risk of Bias in Non‐randomised studies of Interventions (ROBINS‐I) tool was used to assess the potential risk of biases in this study. 51 572 men with a median follow‐up time of 2 years started on GnRH agonists and 2 417 men with a median follow‐up time of 1 year started on GnRH antagonists between 2010 and 2017 in the UK, Scotland, Belgium, the Netherlands and France. Data from five countries improved the study power and internal validity required to compare risk of CVD between GnRH agonists and antagonists, the latter being a fairly new drug with limited data in individual countries.
Predator‐mediated effects of severe drought associated with poor reproductive success of a seabird in a cross‐ecosystem cascade
Authors: Thomsen Sarah K. , Green David J. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractDespite the profound impacts of drought on terrestrial productivity in coastal arid ecosystems, only a few studies have addressed how drought can influence ecological cascades across ecosystem boundaries. In this study, we examine the consequences of rainfall pulses and drought that subsequently impact the breeding success of a threatened nocturnal seabird, the Scripps's Murrelet (Synthliboramphus scrippsi). On an island off the coast of southern California, the main cause of reduced nest success for one of their largest breeding colonies is egg predation by an endemic deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus elusus). Mice on the island have an opportunistic diet of primarily terrestrial sources, but drastic declines in terrestrial productivity from drought might be expected to increase their reliance on marine resources, including murrelet eggs. We compiled data on terrestrial and marine productivity between 1983 and 2013 to determine how conditions in these ecosystems influence murrelet nest success. We found that the severity of drought had the strongest negative impact on murrelet nest success. We calculated that the reduction in fecundity during drought years due to increased egg predation by mice was substantial enough to produce a declining population growth rate. Nest success was much higher under normal or high rainfall conditions, depending on whether oceanic conditions were favorable to murrelets. Therefore, the more frequent and severe drought that is projected for this region could lead to an increased risk of murrelet population decline on this island. Our study highlights the need for understanding how species interactions will change through the effects of increasing drought and altered rainfall regimes under global change.
Cattle select against the invasive grass tall fescue in heterogeneous pastures managed with prescribed fire
Authors: Maresh Nelson Scott B. , Coon Jaime J. , Schacht Walter H. , Miller James R. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractTall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) is a Eurasian forage grass extensively planted in the United States. However, an endophytic fungus in tall fescue, Epichloë coenophiala, causes health problems in cattle. We predicted that cattle prefer to graze alternative forages when available. We also predicted that cattle use tall fescue more intensively in recently burned areas, as fire can increase forage quality. We tested these predictions in four diverse‐forage pastures in Iowa, comparing use by cattle of tall fescue and four alternative forages (non‐fescue cool‐season grasses, native warm‐season grasses, non‐leguminous forbs and legumes) to their availabilities at the pasture scale. We also examined how tall fescue influences the distribution of grazing at a fine scale (0.1‐m2 quadrats). Tall fescue was the most abundant forage (46% of plants), but composed only 26% of grazed vegetation. In contrast, legumes composed 12% of available forage but 25% of grazed vegetation. Other forages were used in proportion to availability. At a fine scale, total grazing frequency (proportion of plants grazed) was lower in quadrats containing abundant tall fescue, and higher in quadrats with abundant warm‐season grasses. Grazing frequency of tall fescue and other cool‐season grasses was greatest in recently burned quadrats, but total grazing frequency did not increase after burning. Our results show that although cattle graze tall fescue, particularly following burns, they limit their use of this grass. Given that tall fescue is underused, creates health risks for cattle, and degrades wildlife habitat quality, it may be advisable to reduce tall fescue in pastures.
Bioactive peptides with antidiabetic properties: a review
Authors: Yan Jiai , Zhao Jianguang , Yang Ruijin , Zhao Wei 
Published: February 2019

AbstractDiabetes mellitus is a complex disorder characterised by insufficient insulin production or insulin resistance. Disease incidence is accumulating at a rapidly increasing rate, resulting in a considerable social, health and economic burden in the modern world. Bioactive peptides show significant potential for use in health management strategies, particularly as components of drugs and functional foods for diabetes treatment. Many antidiabetic bioactive peptides have been isolated and validated. The aim of this review was to update the state of knowledge of the origin, structural characteristics and action. Additionally, the potential mechanisms of bioactive peptides on key enzymes and proteins, such as α‐amylase, α‐glucosidase, glucagon‐like peptides and dipeptidyl peptidase‐IV, that participate in glycaemic level control from the intake of carbohydrates to blood glucose regulation were overviewed. This knowledge should facilitate research and industrial efforts to better understand and evaluate the potential of bioactive peptides with antidiabetic properties for blood glucose level management.
Same‐gender and same‐race bias in assessment center ratings: A rating error approach to understanding subgroup differences
Authors: Thornton George C. , Rupp Deborah E. , Gibbons Alyssa M. , Vanhove Adam J. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractThis study investigated leniency and similar‐to‐me bias as mechanisms underlying demographic subgroup differences among assessees in assessors’ initial dimension ratings from three assessment center (AC) simulation exercises used as part of high‐stakes promotional testing. It examined whether even small individual‐level effects can accumulate (i.e., “trickle‐up”) to produce larger subgroup‐level differences. Individual‐level analyses were conducted using cross‐classified multilevel modeling and conducted separately for each exercise. Results demonstrated weak evidence of leniency toward White assessees and similar‐to‐me bias among non‐White assessee–assessor pairs. Similar leniency was found toward female assessees, but no statistically significant effects were found for assessee or assessor gender or assessee–assessor gender similarity. Using traditional d effect size estimates, weak individual level assessee effects translated into small but consistent subgroup differences favoring White and female assessees. Generally small but less consistent subgroup differences indicated that non‐White and male assessors gave higher ratings. Moreover, analyses of overall promotion decisions indicate the absence of adverse impact. Findings from this AC provide some support for the “trickle‐up” effect, but the effect on subgroup differences is trivial. The results counter recent reviews of AC studies suggesting larger than previously assumed subgroup differences. Consequently, the findings demonstrate the importance of following established best practices when developing and implementing the AC method for selection purposes to minimize subgroup differences.
The Economic Assimilation of African Immigrants in the United States
Authors: Tesfazion Petros , Su Yaqin 
Published: February 2019

AbstractThis article examines the puzzle that the earnings of African immigrants do not match their high qualifications in terms of educational attainment. We apply cohort analysis to compare the economic assimilation patterns of black African immigrants with that of black non‐African immigrants. We find results that are consistent with the idea that the lower earnings of African immigrants are due to greater difficulty with skill transferability. Africans face substantially lower earnings at entry than black natives and black non‐African immigrants, although they close a substantial part of the initial earnings gap over time. Moreover, the earnings gap at entry has narrowed for recent cohorts; and Africans who migrate during childhood and those with no college education face no disadvantage. We also find similar patterns of assimilation in labour supply and participation in welfare programmes, which indicate that Africans face greater challenges at entry but assimilate at a faster rate.
The construction of career aspirations amongst healthcare support workers: beyond the rational and the mundane?
Authors: Kessler Ian , Bach Stephen , Nath Vandana 
Published: February 2019

AbstractThis article engages with a literature that views the limited career aspirations of low‐paid, low‐status workers as a reasonable response to material and structural constraints. Based on four hospital trust cases studies, the article contests this view, revealing how healthcare support workers in NHS England have retained the cognitive capacity to override such constraints to develop a strong and authentic career goal to become a nurse. This goal is acknowledged by the healthcare support workers themselves as unlikely to be achieved and is therefore presented as a flight from rationality. Its emergence is explained by workplace interactions that allow such an ambition to become taken‐for‐granted. The article deepens understanding of career ambitions amongst low‐paid, low‐status workers, while adding weight to a literature suggesting that career aspirations can be driven by values and norms, not only by a means‐end rationality.
Model and methods to address urban road network problems with disruptions
Authors: Huang Yipeng , Santos Andréa Cynthia , Duhamel Christophe 
Published: February 2019

AbstractDisruptions in urban road networks can quickly and significantly reduce the quality of the whole transportation network, and impact urban mobility for light vehicles, public transportation, etc. In this study, we consider both unidirectional and multidirectional road network problems with disruptions and connecting requirements. These problems aim at reconfiguring the urban network in terms of road direction in order to maintain a path among all points of the network (strong connectivity). The former is defined on simple graphs, mainly modeling part of a city such as historical centers, while the latter relies on multigraphs, modeling more general networks. Restoring the network (strong connectivity) after some disruptions may require the modification of the orientation of some streets, that is, arc reversals. Such actions can disturb users' driving habits. Thus, two objectives are considered separately: minimizing the total travel distance and minimizing the number of arc reversals. We define formally both problems and propose two metaheuristics, a biased random key genetic algorithm and an iterated local search. Numerical experiments have been performed on a set of generated instances and on the urban network of Troyes (France).
Selection of wheat genotypes for biomass allocation to improve drought tolerance and carbon sequestration into soils
Authors: Mathew Isack , Shimelis Hussein , Mutema Macdex , Clulow Alistair , Zengeni Rebecca , Mbava Nozibusiso , Chaplot Vincent 
Published: February 2019

AbstractThe biomass allocation pattern of plants to shoots and roots is a key in the cycle of elements such as carbon, water and nutrients with, for instance, the greatest allocations to roots fostering the transfer of atmospheric carbon to soils through photosynthesis. Several studies have investigated the root to shoot ratio (R:S) biomass of existing crops but variation within a crop species constitutes an important information gap for selecting genotypes aiming for increasing soil carbon stocks for climate change mitigation and food security. The objectives of this study were to evaluate agronomic performance and quantify biomass production and allocation between roots and shoots, in response to different soil water levels to select promising genotypes for breeding. Field and greenhouse experiments were carried out using 100 genotypes including wheat and Triticale under drought‐stressed and non‐stressed conditions. The experiments were set‐up using a 10 × 10 alpha lattice design with two replications under water stress and non‐stress conditions. The following phenotypic traits were collected: number of days to heading (DTH), number of productive tillers per plant (NPT), plant height (PH), days to maturity (DTM), spike length (SL), kernels per spike (KPS), thousand kernel weight (TKW), root biomass (RB), shoot biomass (SB), root to shoot ratio (R:S) and grain yield (GY). There was significant (p < 0.05) variation for grain yield and biomass production because of genotypic variation. The highest grain yield of 247.3 g/m2 was recorded in the genotype LM52 and the least was in genotype Sossognon with 30 g/m2. Shoot biomass ranged from 830 g/m2 (genotype Arenza) to 437 g/m2 (LM57), whilst root biomass ranged between 603 g/m2 for Triticale and 140 g/m2 for LM15 across testing sites and water regimes. Triticale also recorded the highest R:S of 1.2, whilst the least was 0.30 for wheat genotype LM18. Overall, drought stress reduced total biomass production by 35% and R:S by 14%. Genotypic variation existed for all measured traits useful for improving drought tolerance, whilst the calculated R:S values can improve accuracy in estimating C sequestration potential of wheat. Wheat genotypes LM26, LM47, BW140, LM70, LM48, BW152, LM75, BW162, LM71 and BW141 were selected for further development based on their high total biomass production, grain yield potential and genetic diversity under drought stress.
First principles predicting enhanced ductility of boride carbide through magnesium microalloying
Authors: Tang Bin , He Yi , Goddard William A. , An Qi 
Published: February 2019

AbstractThe low fracture toughness of strong covalent solids prevents them from wide engineering applications. Microalloying metal elements into covalent solids may lead to a significant improvement on mechanical properties and drastical changes on the chemical bonding. To illustrate these effects we employed density functional theory (DFT) to examine the bonding characteristic and mechanical failure of recently synthesized magnesium boride carbide (Mg3B50C8) that is formed by adding Mg into boron carbide (B4C). We found that Mg3B50C8 has more metallic bonding charterer than B4C, but the atomic structure still satisfies Wade's rules. The metallic bonding significantly affects the failure mechanisms of Mg3B50C8 compared with B4C. In Mg3B50C8, the B12 icosahedral clusters are rotated in order to accommodate to the extensive shear strain without deconstruction. In addition, the critical failure strength of Mg3B50C8 is slightly higher than that of B4C under indentation stress conditions. Our results suggested that the ductility of Mg3B50C8 is drastically enhanced compared with B4C while the hardness is slightly higher than B4C.
Practitioner Review: Unguided and guided self‐help interventions for common mental health disorders in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Bennett Sophie D. , Cuijpers Pim , Ebert David Daniel , McKenzie Smith Mhairi , Coughtrey Anna E. , Heyman Isobel , Manzotti Grazia , Shafran Roz 
Published: February 2019

Mental health problems are common in children and adolescents, yet evidence‐based treatments are hard to access. Self‐help interventions can increase such access. The aim of this paper was to conduct a systematic review and meta‐analysis of the use of guided and unguided self‐help for children and young people with symptoms of common mental health disorders. In contrast to previous reviews of self‐help in children, all types of self‐help and multiple mental health disorders were investigated in order to increase power to investigate potential moderators of efficacy. Importantly, studies with control arms as well as those comparing against traditional face‐to‐face treatments were included. Fifty studies (n = 3396 participants in self‐help/guided self‐help conditions) met the inclusion criteria. Results demonstrated a moderate positive effect size for guided and unguided self‐help interventions when compared against a control group (n = 44; g = 0.49; 95% CI: 0.37 to 0.61, p < .01) and a small but significant negative effect size when compared to other therapies (n = 15; g = −0.17; 95% CI: –0.27 to –0.07, p < .01). Few potential moderators had a significant effect on outcome. Most comparisons resulted in significant heterogeneity and therefore results are interpreted with caution.