bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reporting the pension obligations of social security schemes: An EU perspective
Authors: Stavrakis Costas 
Published: October 2018

AbstractEuropean Union (EU) Member States have very diverse social security pension systems with respect to the types of schemes/benefits offered, their redistributive features, as well as the method and sources of financing adopted. Also, the role of the state in securing retirement in old age varies considerably across the EU. According to the European System of National and Regional Accounts 2010 framework, the pension obligations of EU social security pension schemes are now reported in the supplementary Table 29, based on the accrued‐to‐date liability method. Such a method does not allow the assessment of the financial sustainability of social security schemes, which are typically financed on a pay‐as‐you‐go/partially funded basis, as well as the sustainability of public finances. In addition, while contributory social security pension schemes, with or without non‐contributory components, are included in Table 29, non‐contributory social security schemes are in principle excluded. This article aims to suggest how to enhance the transparency and cross‐country comparability of Table 29 results at EU level, by disclosing additional information suitable for evaluating the financial status of contributory social security pension schemes, which would take into account not only the financing method adopted but also the type of benefits offered. From a policy perspective, such additional information would ensure that no certain types of social security schemes are promoted in the EU, and that the clarity and effectiveness of the role of the state in financing a social security pension scheme is enhanced.
Audit quality and properties of analysts’ information environment
Authors: He Wen , Sidhu Baljit , Taylor Stephen 
Published: October 2018

AbstractWe consider how audit quality impacts sell‐side analysts’ information environment. Using the method outlined by Barron et al., we examine whether higher audit quality is associated with differences in the weight analysts place on common information relative to private information, as well as the extent to which audit quality separately impacts the precision of analysts’ private and common information. Our results show that, in instances where analysts revise their earnings forecasts for year t+1 shortly after the release of year t earnings, higher audit quality results in analysts placing more weight on public information. The precision of private (as well as public) information is improved. These results extend our understanding of how audit quality impacts on attributes of analysts’ forecasts and provides support for the argument that audit quality has important capital market implications.
Early Implant Failures in Edentulous Patients: A Multivariable Regression Analysis of 4615 Consecutively Treated Jaws. A Retrospective Study
Authors: Malm Malin Olsson , Jemt Torsten , Stenport Victoria 
Published: October 2018

AbstractPurposeTo study the incidence of early implant failures in edentulous jaws and to describe the effects of some patient‐ and implant‐related factors on the risk for early implant failures.Materials and MethodsThe study retrospectively analyzed 4615 edentulous jaws (4067 patients), consecutively treated with dental implants at one referral clinic from 1986 to 2013. Implant failures that occurred from implant surgery up to the first recall examination 1 year after prosthesis insertion were recorded and defined as early implant failures. All removed implants were included as failures. Features of the study group and early implant failure rates were reported. A multivariable logistic regression model was used for analyzing possible associations between clinical factors, and the risk for early implant failures. Implant surfaces were categorized by means of roughness: turned (Sa0.5‐1.0 μm) and moderately rough (Sa1.0‐2.0 μm).ResultsThree hundred twenty‐seven patients (344 jaws) were lost to follow‐up. Early implant failures occurred in 8.6% of the jaws. In the maxilla there was a significantly higher incidence of early failures compared to the mandible both with turned implants, OR 5.93 (95% CI 4.21; 8.36), and moderately rough implants, OR 2.52 (95% CI 1.19; 5.34). The impact of implant surface roughness was significant in the maxilla with higher incidence of early failures with turned implants, OR 3.51 (95% CI 2.27; 5.42). There was a significant interaction between implant surface and jaw type on early failures (p = 0.034). Older age was associated with lower risk for early implant failures, OR 0.9 (95%CI 0.82; 0.99). In total, 63% of the jaws with failure could proceed with the prosthetic treatment without further implant insertions. Twenty‐six percent of the early failures occurred after prosthesis insertion and 59% of those could maintain the same prosthesis after implant loss with or without adjustments.ConclusionsChanging the implant surface from turned to moderately rough decreased the incidence of early implant failures significantly in the maxilla, but not in the mandible. Older age at implant insertion was associated with lower risk for early implant failures in edentulous patients.
Demographic risk factors for lymphoma in Australian dogs: 6201 cases
Authors: Bennett Peter F. , Taylor Rosanne , Williamson Peter 
Published: October 2018

BackgroundLymphoma is common in the dog. Studies of population risk factors primarily have been derived from referral institution or insurance data.ObjectiveTo identify and quantify the host risk factors for lymphoma in a broad population of Australian dogs.AnimalsData on 6201 client owned dogs were retrieved from a commercial veterinary laboratory, a general practice group and 2 referral hospitals.MethodsData collected included breed, sex, and neuter status. A reference population of 640 105 dogs was generated from the referral hospitals and from council registration data. The risk of lymphoma by sex and neuter status was calculated as odds ratios (OR).ResultsThe study identified 30 breeds at increased risk of lymphoma, 15 that have not been reported previously, and 26 breeds at decreased risk, 18 that have not been reported previously. Males were over represented compared to females with an OR of 1.1 (95% CI, 1.1–1.2; P < .001). Neutered animals were at higher risk compared to intact animals with an OR of 3.2 (95% CI, 2.9–3.5) which was found in both males (OR, 2.8; 95% CI; 2.5–3.2) and females (OR, 4.4; 95% CI, 3.5–5.1).Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceBreed, sex, and neuter status alter the risk of lymphoma in dogs. These 3 factors must be considered when evaluating lymphoma risk as potential markers of underlying differences in disease etiology. Comparison of breeds at increased and decreased risk could be advantageous when evaluating specific etiological factors.
Democracy's Unique Advantage in Promoting Economic Growth: Quantitative Evidence for a New Institutional Theory
Authors: Tang Rui , Tang Shiping 
Published: October 2018

SummaryBringing together the classic defense of liberty and democracy, the political economy of hierarchy, endogenous growth theory, and the new institutional economics on growth, we propose a new institutional theory that identifies democracy's unique advantage in prompting economic growth. We contend that the channel of liberty‐to‐innovation is the most critical channel in which democracy holds a unique advantage over autocracy in promoting growth, especially during the stage of growth via innovation. Our theory thus predicts that democracy holds a positive but indirect effect upon growth via the channel of liberty‐to‐innovation, conditioned by the level of economic development. We then present quantitative evidence for our theory. To our best knowledge, we are the first to propose such an indirect and conditional effect of democracy upon economic development and provide systematic evidence. Our study promises to integrate and reconcile many seemingly unrelated and often contradictory theories and evidence regarding regime and growth, including providing a possible explanation for the inconclusive results from regressing overall regime score against the rate of economic growth or change in level of GDP per capita.
ELF18‐INDUCED LONG NONCODING RNA 1 evicts fibrillarin from mediator subunit to enhance PATHOGENESIS‐RELATED GENE 1 (PR1) expression
Authors: Seo Jun Sung , Diloknawarit Piyarut , Park Bong Soo , Chua Nam‐Hai 
Published: October 2018

Summary

Plant immune response is initiated upon the recognition of pathogen‐associated molecular patterns such as elf18. Previously, we identified an Arabidopsis ELF18‐INDUCED LONG NONCODING RNA 1 (ELENA1), as a positive transcriptional regulator of immune responsive genes. ELENA1 associated with Mediator subunit 19a (MED19a) to enhance enrichment of the complex on PATHOGENESIS‐RELATED GENE 1 (PR1) promoter.

In vitro and in vivo RNA–protein interaction experiments showed that ELENA1 can also interact with FIBRILLARIN 2 (FIB2). Co‐immunoprecipitation and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assay showed that FIB2 directly interacts with MED19a in nucleoplasm and nucleolus. Analysis of fib2 mutant showed that FIB2 functions as a negative transcriptional regulator for immune responsive genes, including PR1.

Genetic and biochemical analyses demonstrated that ELENA1 can dissociate the FIB2/MED19a complex and release FIB2 from PR1 promoter to enhance PR1 expression.

ELENA1 increases PR1 expression by evicting the repressor (FIB2) from the activator (MED19a). Our findings uncover an additional layer of complexity in the transcriptional regulation of plant immune responsive genes by long noncoding RNA.
Heavy metals in domestic wastewater with respect to urban population in Ostrava, Czech Republic
Authors: Drozdova Jarmila , Raclavska Helena , Raclavsky Konstantin , Skrobankova Hana 
Published: October 2018

AbstractDuring dry weather periods, domestic wastewater is a major component of urban wastewater influent to a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). For this reason, the quantity and quality of domestic wastewater have a considerable effect on the resultant contamination of urban wastewater and on the subsequent selection of appropriate WWTP technology. The aim of this study was to quantify the amount of hazardous elements in domestic wastewater to determine the average daily production of domestic wastewater and risk elements per inhabitant and quantify the proportion of households in the total load of urban wastewater. Wastewater samples were collected from nine local sewer systems in Ostrava, the Kravare WWTP and the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant of Ostrava (Czech Republic). We found that the average production of wastewater from households is approximately 135 L per person per day. The results also show that the share of households in urban wastewater is approximately 60% in the case of Cd, 35–21% in the case of Zn, Cu, As and less than 15% for Pb, Cr, Fe, Ni and Mn.
Characterizing the plasma metabolome during 14 days of live‐high, train‐low simulated altitude: A metabolomic approach
Authors: Lawler Nathan G. , Abbiss Chris R. , Gummer Joel P. A. , Broadhurst David I. , Govus Andrew D. , Fairchild Timothy J. , Thompson Kevin G. , Garvican‐Lewis Laura A. , Gore Christopher J. , Maker Garth L. , Trengove Robert D. , Peiffer Jeremiah J. 
Published: October 2018

New Findings
What is the central question of this study?
Does 14 days of live‐high, train‐low simulated altitude alter an individual's metabolomic/metabolic profile?

What is the main finding and its importance?
This study demonstrated that ∼200 h of moderate simulated altitude exposure resulted in greater variance in measured metabolites between subject than within subject, which indicates individual variability during the adaptive phase to altitude exposure. In addition, metabolomics results indicate that altitude alters multiple metabolic pathways, and the time course of these pathways is different over 14 days of altitude exposure. These findings support previous literature and provide new information on the acute adaptation response to altitude.

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to determine the influence of 14 days of normobaric hypoxic simulated altitude exposure at 3000 m on the human plasma metabolomic profile. For 14 days, 10 well‐trained endurance runners (six men and four women; 29 ± 7 years of age) lived at 3000 m simulated altitude, accumulating 196.4 ± 25.6 h of hypoxic exposure, and trained at ∼600 m. Resting plasma samples were collected at baseline and on days 3 and 14 of altitude exposure and stored at −80°C. Plasma samples were analysed using liquid chromatography–high‐resolution mass spectrometry to construct a metabolite profile of altitude exposure. Mass spectrometry of plasma identified 36 metabolites, of which eight were statistically significant (false discovery rate probability 0.1) from baseline to either day 3 or day 14. Specifically, changes in plasma metabolites relating to amino acid metabolism (tyrosine and proline), glycolysis (adenosine) and purine metabolism (adenosine) were observed during altitude exposure. Principal component canonical variate analysis showed significant discrimination between group means (P < 0.05), with canonical variate 1 describing a non‐linear recovery trajectory from baseline to day 3 and then back to baseline by day 14. Conversely, canonical variate 2 described a weaker non‐recovery trajectory and increase from baseline to day 3, with a further increase from day 3 to 14. The present study demonstrates that metabolomics can be a useful tool to monitor metabolic changes associated with altitude exposure. Furthermore, it is apparent that altitude exposure alters multiple metabolic pathways, and the time course of these changes is different over 14 days of altitude exposure.
Serelaxin attenuates renal inflammation and fibrosis in a mouse model of dilated cardiomyopathy
Authors: Giam Beverly , Chu Po‐Yin , Kuruppu Sanjaya , Smith A. Ian , Horlock Duncan , Murali Aishwarya , Kiriazis Helen , Du Xiao‐Jun , Kaye David M. , Rajapakse Niwanthi W. 
Published: October 2018

New Findings
What is the central question of this study?
The aim was to determine the renoprotective effects of serelaxin in the setting of chronic heart failure.

What are the main findings and its importance?
Our data indicate that serelaxin can reduce renal fibrosis and inflammation in experimental heart failure. Currently, there are no effective treatments to rescue renal function in heart failure patients, and our data suggest that serelaxin might have the potential to reduce renal fibrosis and inflammation in heart failure.

AbstractSerelaxin has been demonstrated to attenuate renal fibrosis and inflammation in cardiorenal disease. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that serelaxin can prevent the decline in renal function in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) by targeting renal fibrosis and inflammation. Male transgenic mice with DCM (n = 16) and their wild‐type littermates (WT; n = 20) were administered either vehicle or serelaxin (500 μg kg−1 day−1; subcutaneous minipumps; 8 weeks). Cardiac function was assessed via echocardiography before and during the eighth week of serelaxin treatment. Renal function and inflammation as well as cardiac and renal fibrosis were assessed at the end of the study. Serelaxin had minimal effect on cardiac function (P ≥ 0.99). Tubulointerstitial and glomerular fibrosis were ∼3‐fold greater in vehicle‐treated DCM mice compared with vehicle‐treated WT mice (P ≤ 0.001). Renal mRNA expression of Tnfα and Il1α were ∼4‐ and ∼3‐fold greater, respectively, in vehicle‐treated DCM mice compared with vehicle‐treated WT mice (P ≤ 0.05). Tubulointerstitial and glomerular fibrosis were 46 and 45% less, respectively, in serelaxin‐treated DCM mice than in vehicle‐treated DCM mice (P ≤ 0.01). Renal cortical mRNA expression of Tnfα and Il1α were 56 and 58% less, respectively, in the former group compared with the latter (P ≤ 0.05). The urinary albumin:creatinine ratio was ∼3‐fold greater in vehicle‐treated DCM mice compared with vehicle‐treated WT mice (P = 0.02). The urinary albumin:creatinine ratio was not significantly different between vehicle‐treated DCM mice and serelaxin‐treated DCM mice (P = 0.38). These data suggest that serelaxin can attenuate renal fibrosis and inflammation and has the potential to exert renoprotective effects in DCM.
Some biological and behavioral aspects of Amblyomma longirostre (Acari: Ixodidae) under laboratory and natural conditions
Authors: Luz Hermes Ribeiro , Martins Thiago F. , Teixeira Rodrigo H. F. , Terassini Flávio A. , Soares Herbert S. , Soares João F. , Faccini João L. H. , Labruna Marcelo B. 
Published: October 2018

Amblyomma longirostre (Koch, 1844) has been reported as one of the most common ticks parasitizing wild animals in Brazil; however, information about its life cycle is inexistent, as well as information on its behavior in nature. In order to determine some aspects of the life cycle of A. longirostre in the laboratory, we performed infestations of larvae and nymphs on Serinus canaria (Common Canary - Passeriformes), Calomys callosus (Vesper mouse), Sphiggurus villosus (Brazilian porcupine), and Gallus gallus (chicks - no Passeriformes); this later host species only for larvae. While the overall recovery rates of engorged larvae and nymphs were low (at most 11.1%), the highest rates were for ticks that had fed on S. canaria (Passerifomes). This result is supported by field data, which indicate Passeriformes as preferable hosts for larvae and nymphs of A. longirostre. Interestingly, the suitability of the porcupine S. villosus as host for larvae and nymphs was statistically similar to S. canaria, although the recovery rates on the later host species were slightly higher. The Cricetidae mouse C. callosus displayed the lowest recovery rates (0–0.5%) of engorged ticks, indicating that mice might not be suitable hosts for A. longirostre under natural conditions. We also report three adult females of A. longirostre that were collected from two Bristle-spined porcupine Chaetomys subspinosus. Curiously, each of the three ticks was attached to the median third of a spine of the porcupines. The hypostome was surrounded by a cement-like structure at the spine external surface, but did not break through the external surface of the spine. Biological explanations for this behavior are discussed.
A Novel Method to Characterize Walking and Running Energy Expenditure
Authors: Evans Alyssa , Collins Gavin Q. , Rosquist Parker G. , Tuttle Noelle J. , Morrin Steven J. , Tracy James B. , Jake Merrell A. , Christensen William F. , Fullwood David T. , Bowden Anton E. , Seeley Matthew K. 
Published: October 2018

Background: Physical activity and corresponding energy expenditure can improve health in various ways. Existing methods to directly measure energy expenditure are currently limited to laboratory settings and/or expensive instrumentation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate accuracy of energy expenditure characterization, during walking and running, using demographic data, as well as data collected via an accelerometer and novel piezoresponsive foam sensors. Methods: 30 individuals (14 females; mass = 67 ± 10 kg; height = 1.74 ± 0.08 m; age = 23 ± 3 yrs) walked and ran at five speeds (1.34, 2.23, 2.68, 3.13, and 3.58 m/s) on a force-instrumented treadmill while wearing a metabolic analyzer and standardized athletic shoes instrumented with an accelerometer, and four novel nanocomposite piezoresponsive force sensors. Various predictive models, including demographic data and data derived from the accelerometer and force sensors, were evaluated for each gait speed. Results: The predictive models varied in ability to accurately characterize energy expenditure. For walking, the most accurate model included acceleration and body weight, and resulted in an average absolute error of 0.07 ± 0.03 kcal/min. For running, the most accurate model included sensor and acceleration data, and resulted in an average absolute error of 0.45 ± 0.14 kcal/min. Conclusions: When combined with acceleration data and body weight, the novel foam sensors can be used to inexpensively and accurately measure walking and running energy expenditure. This can be done at various speeds, outside of a traditional research laboratory. These results have application within a wide range of diverse contexts.
Heart Rate Equivalency of the Fitbit Charge HR During Continuous Aerobic Exercise
Authors: Stock Joseph M. , Pohlig Ryan T. , Botieri Matthew J. , Edwards David G. , Dominick Gregory M. 
Published: October 2018

Purpose: Consumer-grade wrist-worn activity monitors frequently include photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors for estimating heart rate (HR). The Fitbit Charge HR is marketed specifically for tracking fitness; therefore, HR accuracy is critical, especially during exercise. This study examined HR equivalency of the Fitbit Charge HR during continuous aerobic exercise. Method: Participants (N = 19) concurrently wore a Polar H1 and Fitbit Charge HR during a measurement visit that included seated rest (5 minutes), warm-up (5 minutes), continuous treadmill exercise (30 minutes), and cool-down (5–10 minutes). Mean HR differences were examined by protocol phase, total activity (i.e., warm-up, exercise, and cool-down combined), and the first, middle, and last 5 minutes of continuous exercise. Mean absolute percent error (MAPE), Bland-Altman plots, and 95% equivalence testing explained overall and individual HR agreement between devices. Results: The Fitbit Charge HR significantly underestimated HR for all measurement phases (all p ≤ .01) except cool-down (p > .33). HR agreement was notably weaker during warm-up (r = 0.66, d = 0.57) and differences were greatest for the first 5 minutes compared to the middle and end of exercise (6.94±2.16 beats per minute [bpm] vs. 1.76±0.59 bpm, and 1.74±0.58 bpm), F = 4.87, p = .04). Mean exercise HRs were equivalent between devices (±2.69 bpm, 95% CI: 1.41–3.97 bpm); MAPE was 1.96%. Conclusion: The Fitbit Charge HR is relatively accurate for measuring HR during continuous aerobic exercise. Whereas the accuracy of PPG-based HR appears limited at exercise onset, agreement improves throughout the exercise bout and HR differences are negligible.