bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Phenotypic selection on ponderosa pine seed and seedling traits in the field under three experimentally manipulated drought treatments
Authors: Warwell Marcus V. , Shaw Ruth G. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractDrought‐related selection during seedling emergence and early development may play a strong role in adaptation. Yet this process is poorly understood and particularly so in relation to ongoing climate change. To evaluate drought‐induced differences in selection during early life stages, a total of 50 maternal families sampled from three climatically disparate ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosaDoug.) populations were grown from seed in two common garden field experiments at a location that was warmer and drier than seed origins. Three drought treatments were imposed experimentally. Phenotypic selection was assessed by relating plant fitness measured as survival or unconditional expected height at age 3 to seed density (mass per unit volume), date of emergence, and timing of shoot elongation. In the year of emergence from seed, differential mortality was particularly strong and clearly indicated selection. In contrast, selection in subsequent years was far less pronounced. Phenotypes with high seed density, an intermediate but relatively early emergence date, and high 2nd‐year early‐season shoot elongation exhibited the greatest estimated fitness under drought. The form of selection varied among seed sources in relation to drought treatment. Selection was generally more acute in the cases of greatest difference between drought treatment and climatic patterns of precipitation at the site of seed origin. These results suggest that populations of ponderosa pine are differentially adapted to drought patterns associated with the climate of their origin. To the extent that the phenotypic traits examined are heritable or correlated with heritable traits, our results provide insight into how tree populations may evolve in response to drought.
Walking in a heterogeneous landscape: Dispersal, gene flow and conservation implications for the giant panda in the Qinling Mountains
Authors: Ma Tianxiao , Hu Yibo , Russo Isa‐Rita M. , Nie Yonggang , Yang Tianyou , Xiong Lijuan , Ma Shuai , Meng Tao , Han Han , Zhang Ximing , Bruford Michael W. , Wei Fuwen 
Published: August 2018

AbstractUnderstanding the interaction between life history, demography and population genetics in threatened species is critical for the conservations of viable populations. In the context of habitat loss and fragmentation, identifying the factors that underpin the structuring of genetic variation within populations can allow conservationists to evaluate habitat quality and connectivity and help to design dispersal corridors effectively. In this study, we carried out a detailed, fine‐scale landscape genetic investigation of a giant panda population from the Qinling Mountains for the first time. With a large microsatellite data set and complementary analysis methods, we examined the role of isolation‐by‐barriers (IBB), isolation‐by‐distance (IBD) and isolation‐by‐resistance (IBR) in shaping the pattern of genetic variation in this giant panda population. We found that the Qinling population comprises one continuous genetic cluster, and among the landscape hypotheses tested, gene flow was found to be correlated with resistance gradients for two topographic factors, slope aspect and topographic complexity, rather than geographical distance or barriers. Gene flow was inferred to be facilitated by easterly slope aspect and to be constrained by topographically complex landscapes. These factors are related to benign microclimatic conditions for both the pandas and the food resources they rely on and more accessible topographic conditions for movement, respectively. We identified optimal corridors based on these results, aiming to promote gene flow between human‐induced habitat fragments. These findings provide insight into the permeability and affinities of giant panda habitats and offer important reference for the conservation of the giant panda and its habitat.
The Social Creation of Morality and Complicity in Collective Harms: A Kantian Account
Authors: Williams Garrath 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThis article considers the charge that citizens of developed societies are complicit in large‐scale harms, using climate destabilisation as its central example. It contends that we have yet to create a lived morality – a fabric of practices and institutions – that is adequate to our situation. As a result, we participate in systematic injustice, despite all good efforts and intentions. To make this case, the article draws on recent discussions of Kant's ethics and politics. Section 2 considers Tamar Schapiro's account of how otherwise decent actions can be corrupted by others’ betrayals, and hence fall into complicity. Section 3 turns to discussions by Christine Korsgaard and Lucy Allais, which highlight how people can be left without innocent choices if shared frameworks of interaction do not instantiate core ideals. Section 4 brings these ideas together in order to make sense of the charge of complicity in grave collective harms, and addresses some worries that the idea of unavoidable complicity may raise.
Low‐density lipoprotein receptor‐related protein 6 regulates alternative pre‐mRNA splicing
Authors: Yuan Tianyou , Wang Shiyi , Hu Chaoyue , Wu Yufei , Liang Dandan , Li Li , Liu Yi , Li Jun , Chen Yi‐Han 
Published: August 2018

AbstractLow‐density lipoprotein receptor‐related protein 6 (LRP6) serves as a Wnt coreceptor. Although Wnt/LRP6 signalling is best known for the β‐catenin‐dependent regulation of target genes in tissue development and homeostasis, emerging evidence demonstrates the biological aspects of LRP6 beyond a Wnt coreceptor. Whether LRP6 modulates tissue development in a Wnt/β‐catenin signalling‐independent manner remains unknown. Using a model of striated muscle development, we observed that LRP6 was almost undetectable in proliferating myoblasts, whereas its expression gradually increased in the nucleus of myodifferentiating cells. During myodifferentiation, LRP6 modulated the muscle‐specific splicing of integrin‐β1D and consequent myotube maturation independently of the β‐catenin‐dependent Wnt signalling. Furthermore, we identified that the carboxy‐terminal serine‐rich region in LRP6 bond to the adenine‐rich sequence within alternative exon D (AED) of integrin‐β1 pre‐mRNA, and therefore, elicited AED inclusion when the spliceosome was recruited to the splice site. The interaction of LRP6 with the adenine‐rich sequence was sufficient to overcome AED exclusion by a splicing repressor, polypyrimidine tract binding protein‐1. Besides the integrin‐β1, deep RNA sequencing in different types of cells revealed that the LRP6‐mediated splicing regulation was widespread. Thus, our findings implicate LRP6 as a potential regulator for alternative pre‐mRNA splicing.
The comparison of risk of stroke in patients with peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Boonpheng Boonphiphop , Thongprayoon Charat , Cheungpasitporn Wisit 
Published: August 2018

AbstractObjectiveSeveral studies have demonstrated that end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on dialysis are at higher risk for cerebrovascular events, especially those on hemodialysis. However, the risk of stroke in patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD) compared to those on hemodialysis (HD) remains unclear. We performed this meta‐analysis to assess the risks of stroke in ESRD patients on PD compared to HD.MethodsA systematic review was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane databases from inception through January 2018 to identify studies that evaluated the risks of stroke (all types of stroke, ischemic stroke or hemorrhagic stroke) in ESRD patients on different dialysis modalities. Effect estimates from the individual study were extracted and combined using random‐effect, generic inverse variance method of DerSimonian and Laird.ResultsFifteen cohort studies with a total of 1 289 572 ESRD patients (over 1 140 942 on HD and 122 534 on PD) were enrolled. Compared with HD, PD was associated with a significantly decreased risk of hemorrhagic stroke with pooled OR of 0.84 (95% CI: 0.76‐0.92). However, there were no differences in risks of all types of stroke or ischemic stroke in those on PD compared to HD with pooled ORs of 1.06 (95% CI: 0.91‐1.22) and 1.01 (95% CI: 0.80‐1.18,), respectively.ConclusionsPD status is associated with 16% lower risk of hemorrhagic stroke compared to HD, but the risks of all types of stroke and hemorrhagic stroke are not statistically different in PD patients when compared to HD patients.
Evaluation of an antigen assay for diagnosing acute and chronic hepatitis E genotype 4 infection
Authors: Zhang Haiying , Rao Huiying , Wang Yijin , Wang Jianghua , Kong Xiangsha , Ji Ying , Zhu Ling , Liu Yan , Fang Jilian , Yang Ming , Luo Bifen , Wang Zhenyu , Shi Yijun , Wang Yu , Wang Hao , Zhao Jingmin , Wei Lai 
Published: August 2018

AbstractBackground and AimResults obtained from different hepatitis E virus (HEV) tests are usually inconsistent. The detection of serum HEV antigen (Ag) has been suggested to be more sensitive for the diagnosis of genotypes 1 and 3 HEV.MethodsWe compared the diagnostic accuracies of serum HEV Ag and HEV RNA by using 202 serum samples from patients suspected acute viral hepatitis.ResultsThe HEV Ag assay was 100% specific. The lower detected levels of viremia ranged from 102 to 103 copies/mL. The sensitivity of the HEV Ag test was 90.5%. One of the 42 cases was negative for anti‐HEV IgM, but HEV Ag was still detectable. The detectable period of HEV Ag was in concordance with the detectable period of HEV RNA. Serum HEV Ag was persistently detected in two cases of chronic hepatitis E, confirmed by the persistent presence of HEV RNA despite being negative for anti‐HEV IgM. HEV Ag demonstrated good consistency with positive HEV RNA (k = 0.938, P < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis of HEV Ag suggested a second cut‐off value of >0.095 to predict HEV patients with 95.24% sensitivity and 98.75% specificity, and the area under the curve was 0.9887, which was higher than that of three commercial anti‐HEV IgM ELISA tests.ConclusionsThe presence of HEV Ag has good consistency with HEV RNA in both acute and chronic genotype 4 hepatitis E. HEV Ag is a more promising serum marker to identify active genotype 4 HEV infection than anti‐HEV IgM and HEV RNA.
Impact of single‐plane versus Bi‐plane imaging on procedural time, fluorescence time, and contrast medium volume in retrograde chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: Fang Hsiu‐Yu , Wu Chiung‐Jen , Lee Wei‐Chieh 
Published: August 2018

ObjectiveThe aim of the study is to evaluate the impact of single‐plane and bi‐plane imaging on procedural time, fluorescence time, and contrast medium volume in retrograde chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).MethodsBetween January 2008 and December 2015, a total of 359 patients received scheduled retrograde CTO PCI and were enrolled in the study; 119 patients underwent PCI by single‐plane imaging, and another 240 patients underwent PCI by bi‐plane imaging.ResultsA 95.0% rate of technical success was noted in the single‐plane imaging group, and a 95.8% rate of technical success was noted in the bi‐plane imaging group. All patients received the CTO approach via the retrograde method, and the retrograde method success rate was 88.2% in single‐plane imaging group, and 81.7% in the bi‐plane imaging group. A longer procedural time (153.73 ± 53.15 vs 172.88 ± 61.30 min; P = 0.004), longer fluorescence time (71.40 ± 25.96 vs 80.95 ± 34.70 min; P = 0.008), and more contrast medium volume (342.77 ± 102.25 vs 394.58 ± 156.41 mL; P = 0.001) were noted in the bi‐plane imaging group. After propensity score match, a longer procedural time, longer fluorescence time, and more contrast volume was noted in bi‐plane group.ConclusionBi‐plane imaging could not decrease procedural time, fluorescence time, and contrast medium volume in retrograde CTO PCI.
Impact of acute kidney injury in elderly (≥80 years) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: Leistner David M. , Münch Charlotte , Steiner Julia , Erbay Aslihan , Riedel Matthias , Gebhard Cathérine , Lauten Alexander , Landmesser Ulf , Stähli Barbara E. 
Published: August 2018

ObjectivesThis study sought to investigate the prevalence and impact of acute kidney injury (AKI) in elderly patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).BackgroundAKI may complicate PCI and has been associated with worse outcomes. Data on AKI following PCI in elderly patients are scarce.MethodsA total of 458 elderly (≥80 years) patients undergoing PCI at Charité—University Medicine Berlin between January 2009 and December 2014 were stratified according to the presence/absence of AKI. The primary endpoint was all‐cause mortality. The secondary endpoint was rate of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), a composite of all‐cause mortality, non‐fatal myocardial infarction, non‐fatal stroke, and rehospitalization for heart failure. Median follow‐up was 280 (interquartile range 22‐1190) days.ResultsOf the 458 patients, 125 (27.3%) developed AKI following PCI. Age >90 years, congestive heart failure, and C‐reactive protein at presentation emerged as independent predictors of AKI. All‐cause mortality was 20.0% and 8.4% in patients with and without AKI (P = 0.001), and corresponding rates of MACE were 39.2% and 26.4% (P = 0.01), respectively. The occurrence of AKI was associated with an increased risk of all‐cause mortality (adjusted HR 2.41, 95%CI 1.12‐5.17, P = 0.02) and MACE (adjusted HR 1.75, 95%CI 1.15‐2.67, P = 0.01).ConclusionsAKI occurs in a third of elderly (≥80 years) patients undergoing PCI and is associated with increased mortality. These findings underline the unmet clinical need to identify novel strategies for the prevention of AKI in this high‐risk patient subset.
Smell Is Coded in Grammar and Frequent in Discourse: Cha'palaa Olfactory Language in Cross‐Linguistic Perspective
Authors: Floyd Simeon , Roque Lila San , Majid Asifa 
Published: August 2018

AbstractIt has long been claimed that there is no lexical field of smell, and that smell is of too little validity to be expressed in grammar. We demonstrate both claims are false. The Cha'palaa language (Ecuador) has at least 15 abstract smell terms, each of which is formed using a type of classifier previously thought not to exist. Moreover, using conversational corpora we show that Cha'palaa speakers also talk about smell more than Imbabura Quechua and English speakers. Together, this shows how language and social interaction may jointly reflect distinct cultural orientations towards sensory experience in general and olfaction in particular.
Fair optimal tax with endogenous productivities
Authors: Fleurbaey Marc , Valletta Giacomo 
Published: August 2018

AbstractWe consider a model where agents differ in their preferences about consumption, labor, and human capital. Moreover, choosing a certain level of human capital, agents can differently affect their endogenous earning ability. Finally, agents differ in their human capital disposition: different agents face a different cost to acquire a certain amount of human capital. In this framework we study the problem of assessing tax reforms when a policy maker wants to reduce inequalities due to unequal skills while accepting inequalities due to diverse preferences. Consistent with the findings of the fair income taxation literature, when evaluating a tax reform, in order to obtain a social improvement one should always give priority to agents with the most disadvantaged characteristics who work full time. However, in our framework, this corresponds to a whole range of earnings depending on the corresponding level of human capital. We show how subsidies on human capital affect the level of earnings that gets most priority in order to single out more precisely the population that should be the focus of the reform. Relying on these findings we also study the shape of the optimal tax function.
First detection of human T‐lymphotropic virus in blood donors in Benin shows that testing is required to improve blood safety
Authors: Amoussa Adjile Edjide Roukiyath , Kashima Simone , Djobessi Didier , Barreto Fernanda Khouri , Davou Denise , Bigot Andre , Anani Ludovic , Lourenço Jose , Giovanetti Marta , Sabino Ester , Rahimy Mohamed Cherif , Alcantara Luiz Carlos Junior 
Published: August 2018

IntroductionHuman T‐lymphotropic virus (HTLV) is a blood‐borne infection that can be transmitted via blood transfusion. Knowing that blood safety can improve blood transfusion to prevent dissemination of viral infections in medical facilities, there is no routine pre‐transfusion screening for HTLV in all blood banks in the Republic of Benin. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of HTLV infection in blood donors and describes the characteristics of positive donors.MethodsA HTLV prevalence study was carried out by screening 2,035 samples by an enzyme‐linked immunoassay obtained from six blood banks located throughout the Republic of Benin. The PCR method was used to confirm and type all the ELISA reactive samples.Results and discussionTwelve subjects, all volunteer blood donors, were found with positive serology confirmed by a specific HTLV type 1 PCR assay, representing an overall seroprevalence of 0·59%. Furthermore, seven subjects were indeterminate for anti‐HTLV‐1/2 antibody and only one sample was confirmed positive for HTLV type 1 in a PCR reaction. These are the first cases of HTLV detection among blood donors in Benin Republic, whose blood was already transfused to recipients. This result emphasizes that HTLV needs to be considered as a Public Health issue in the Republic of Benin.ConclusionThis study reports positive result of HTLV infection among blood donors in the blood banks of Benin Republic in West Africa and highlights the inclusion of screening tests and strategies to reduce its transmission.
Reflexiones sobre los contratos marco
Authors: Bernal Fandiño Mariana 
Published: August 2018

Los contratos marco son una herramienta de uso frecuente en el tráfico jurídico pero la doctrina colombiana los ha estudiado de forma muy limitada a pesar de las dificultades que presenta tanto en la teoría como en la práctica.
El presente artículo busca analizar la noción de contrato marco para diferenciarlo de otras figuras afines; estudiar su naturaleza jurídica y determinar cuáles son sus efectos jurídicos.
Licensing and Approval of Antimicrobial Agents for Use in Animals
Authors: Pomba Constança , Catry Boudewijn , Edo Jordi Torren , Jukes Helen 
Published: August 2018

ABSTRACT
The importance of antimicrobial resistance and the urgent need to combat it has increased the already existent complexity of licensing and approval of antimicrobial agents for use in animals due to its possible impact on animal and public health. VICH—the International Cooperation on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Veterinary Medicinal Products—is the trilateral (European Union-Japan-United States) program that has the goal of harmonizing technical requirements for veterinary product registration. This article aims to describe the data requirements and testing necessary to build a registration file to obtain marketing authorization for a new antimicrobial agent for use in animals. This information is needed in the context of the risk assessment framework currently used in the approval of veterinary medicinal products containing antimicrobial substances. This framework considers the consequences of the uncontrolled quality of the antimicrobial product, the direct exposure of people to the antimicrobial product (human occupational safety and consumer safety), inadvertent exposure of organisms to the antimicrobial product (environmental safety), the antimicrobial product causing harm in the treated animals (target animal safety), and failure to achieve claims (efficacy). Approved veterinary medicines need to have a clear positive benefit associated with their use because of the risk to public health, animal health, and the environment. However, the presence of antimicrobials in the environment exerts a selective pressure for resistance genes in bacteria, and there is growing worldwide concern about the role of polluted soil and water environments in spreading antimicrobial resistance and the role of the contaminant resistome due to food-producing animal antimicrobial treatment. Additionally, the international developments regarding the categorization of critically important antimicrobials with the possible restrictions of use and the monitoring and surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in animals are reviewed.
Peripheral leptochoroid: clinical and anatomical findings
Authors: Francis Jasmine H , Habib Larissa A , Abramson David H 
Published: August 2018

Background/AimsTo investigate the clinical findings and anatomical characteristics of patients with a thinned peripheral choroid (leptochoroid) presenting with bilateral macular geographical hyperpigmented fundus and compare with matched controls.MethodsA retrospective, observational case series of 44 eyes (24 patients): 22 study eyes (12 study patients) with clinical findings of leptochoroid (geographical hyperpigmented fundus centred in the macula) matched with 22 control eyes (12 control patients). All eyes received enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Two independent observers performed all measurements. Statistical analysis was used to correlate interobserver findings, and compare patient and eye characteristics.ResultsStudy patients had a female predominance and median age of 70 years. Iris colour and refractive error of these eyes were varied: 8 eyes were myopic (one of which was highly myopic with a refractive error of −9.00) and 14 eyes were emmetropic or hyperopic (up to+3.00). The best-corrected visual acuity was 20/40 or better in all study eyes. The geographical macular areas of relative hyperpigmentation correspond to normal choroidal thickness compared with controls (p=0.74). The relative hypopigmented surrounding fundus had significantly thinner choroid compared with controls (p value=0.0001). Choroidal thickness had a strong interobserver correlation (r=0.99, p<0.0001).ConclusionDescribed here is a clinical entity referred to as peripheral leptochoroid. It appears as geographical hyperpigmented fundus centred in the macula, with adjacent relative hypopigmented fundus. Compared with matched normal subjects, the hyperpigmented and hypopigmented fundus correspond with equivocal and decreased choroidal thickness, respectively.