bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The association between fecal hemoglobin concentration and oral potentially malignant disorders
Authors: Yen Amy Ming‐Fang , Wang Sen‐Te , Feng Sheng‐Wei , Lin Che‐Tong , Chen Sam Li‐Sheng 
Published: September 2018

AbstractObjectivesThe present study was to investigate the association between fecal hemoglobin (f‐Hb) concentration and oral cancer and its precursor, oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD).MethodsWe used a population‐based longitudinal cohort study data based on both Taiwanese nationwide oral and colorectal cancer screening programs implemented between 2004 and 2009. The total of 235,234 smokers and/or betel‐quid chewers aged 50 to 69 years free of oral cancer and OPMD at entry were followed up over time to quantify the association between baseline f‐Hb concentration on newly diagnosed oral cancer and OPMD.ResultsThe risk of OPMD increased with baseline f‐Hb in a dose manner, yielding a statistically significant elevated risk of developing OPMD in parallel with the incremental concentration of f‐Hb (adjusted hazard ratios = 0.99, 1,11, 1,07, 1,57, and 1,63 for f‐Hb categories of 1–9, 10–19, 20–49, 50–89, and ≥90 µg Hb/g, respectively, as compared with the reference group (low and undetectable f‐Hb concentrations)) However, there was lacking of a statistical significance for the corresponding association regarding the risk of oral cancer, which is possibly due to sparse cases given a shorter follow‐up time.ConclusionWe discovered that f‐Hb concentration was positively related to the risk of OPMD. f‐Hb can be used as a biomarker for early detection of OPMD.
PhytochromeBdynamics departs from photoequilibrium in the field
Authors: Sellaro Romina , Smith Robert W. , Legris Martina , Fleck Christian , Casal Jorge J. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractVegetation shade is characterized by marked decreases in the red/far‐red ratio and photosynthetic irradiance. The activity of phytochrome in the field has typically been described by its photoequilibrium, defined by the photochemical properties of the pigment in combination with the spectral distribution of the light. This approach represents an oversimplification because phytochrome B (phyB) activity depends not only on its photochemical reactions but also on its rates of synthesis, degradation, translocation to the nucleus, and thermal reversion. To account for these complex cellular reactions, we used a model to simulate phyB activity under a range of field conditions. The model provided values of phyB activity that in turn predicted hypocotyl growth in the field with reasonable accuracy. On the basis of these observations, we define two scenarios, one is under shade, in cloudy weather, at the extremes of the photoperiod or in the presence of rapid fluctuations of the light environment caused by wind‐induced movements of the foliage, where phyB activity departs from photoequilibrium and becomes affected by irradiance and temperature in addition to the spectral distribution. The other scenario is under full sunlight, where phyB activity responds mainly to the spectral distribution of the light.
The incidence of pediatric malignant soft tissue tumors of the skin and subcutaneous tissue
Authors: Liszewski Walter , Maguiness Sheilagh , Greengard Emily , Boull Christina 
Published: September 2018

AbstractSoft tissue tumors are a known, albeit uncommon, cause of cutaneous malignancy in children. Little is known about which types and how frequently these tumors initially present in the skin or subcutis of children. Using data from the 2000‐2014 SEER‐18 database, we have identified 12 malignant soft tissue tumor types, which initially presented in the skin or subcutis of children in over 50% of cases.
Monozygotic twins diagnosed simultaneously with RAM immunophenotype acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Abu‐Arja Rolla F. , Dargart Jamie L. , Bajwa Rajinder P. S. , Kahwash Samir B. , Auletta Jeffery J. , Rangarajan Hemalatha G. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractAML with the RAM immunophenotype is associated with extremely poor prognosis. We report a rare case of monozygotic twins presenting simultaneously at the age of 2 years with RAM AML. Each twin underwent a myeloablative 7/10 unrelated umbilical cord blood transplant. Pretransplant Twin A's bone marrow was negative for MRD by flow cytometry (<0.01%) unlike Twin B's bone marrow (0.07%). Twin A is alive in remission 3 years from transplant. Twin B developed primary graft failure, but subsequently rescued with a haploidentical stem cell transplant. However, she relapsed and died 13 months from diagnosis. The twins’ clinical courses demonstrate that upfront intensive chemotherapy to achieve negative MRD, followed by allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant as postremission intensification strategy, should be considered in this high‐risk AML.
The secreted salivary proteome of Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri
Authors: Yu Xiudao , Killiny Nabil 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThe Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri Kuwayama is a sap‐sucking hemipteran that serves as a vector for Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), the causal agent of citrus huanglongbing (HLB). Salivary secretions play critical roles in insect–host plant interactions and are responsible for the establishment of insect herbivory. In the present study, we aim to identify the major proteins in D. citri saliva. Saliva proteins are collected from the artificial diet upon D. citri feeding. Collected proteins are concentrated, filtered, digested and then analyzed using liquid chromatography‐tandem spectrometry (MS/MS). The MS/MS data are then analyzed by searching the D. citri genome deposited in the NCBI. Eighty‐nine proteins are identified in D. citri saliva. Eighty‐six of these proteins are from D. citri, whereas three proteins are from Wolbachia endosymbiont. The proteins identified belong to several functional groups, including enzymes, cytoskeletal proteins, sheath proteins, receptor proteins, transporter proteins, chromatin‐, RNA‐ and DNA‐binding proteins, and other proteins. These proteins could be involved in many key functions, including detoxification of plant defencee compounds and suppression of plant defence, as well as facilitation of stylet penetration, sap sucking and digestion. The identification of these proteins is an essential step for the understanding of D. citri–plant interactions. The identification of key enzymes in the saliva of D. citri could lead to a discovery of proper inhibitors that disrupt its feeding, consequently preventing the spread of the HLB pathogen.
Dependence of phase setting on the amplitude of square‐wave and pseudo‐sinusoidal temperature cycles in the circadian eclosion rhythm of the onion fly Delia antiqua
Authors: Miyazaki Yosuke , Tanaka Kazuhiro , Watari Yasuhiko 
Published: September 2018

AbstractWith increasing soil depth, the diel temperature amplitude gradually decreases and the phase of the temperature cycle is delayed. The onion fly Delia antiqua (Meigen) (Diptera: Anthomyiidae), which pupates at a soil depth of 2–20 cm, advances the eclosion phase of its circadian rhythm as the temperature amplitude decreases. This ‘temperature amplitude response’ is considered to allow pupae located at any depth to eclose in the early morning. The present study examines the temperature amplitude response of D. antiqua under thermoperiods with amplitudes ranging between 1 and 20 °C. The thermoperiod to which pupae are exposed is either a square‐wave temperature cycle, which is generally used for laboratory experiments, or a pseudo‐sinusoidal temperature cycle, which more closely resembles natural daily temperature cycle, at an average temperature of either 25 or 20 °C. Bursts of eclosion invoked by the abrupt temperature increase in square‐wave cycles are apparently repressed in pseudo‐sinusoidal temperature cycles. Eclosion time shows a clear quantitative shift by 5.9–8.6 h in response to temperature amplitude regardless of the average temperature and the shape of the temperature cycle. The change in the eclosion time is clearly noticeable between amplitudes of 1 and 8 °C but is small between amplitudes of 8 °C or more. Delia antiqua may evolve to compensate for the depth‐dependent phase delay of temperature changes within the possible range of temperature amplitudes in actual soil environments.
Parasites and allergy: Observations from Africa
Authors: Mpairwe Harriet , Amoah Abena S. 
Published: September 2018

SummaryPopulation studies from the African continent have observed a marked increase in the prevalence of allergy‐related diseases over the past few decades, but the cause of this rise is not fully understood. The most investigated potential risk factor has been the relationship between exposure to helminths and allergy‐related outcomes. Immunologically, parallels exist between responses to helminths and to allergens as both are associated with elevated levels of immunoglobulin E, increased numbers of T helper 2 cells and other immune cells. However, epidemiological studies from the African continent have found inconsistent results. In this review, observations from population studies carried out in Africa over the last decade that focus on the relationship between helminth infections and allergy‐related outcomes are examined. How these findings advance our understanding of the complex interactions between helminths and allergies at the population level is also explored as well as some of the underlying immune mechanisms involved. This knowledge is important for better diagnosis, treatment and prevention of allergy‐related diseases and has wider global significance.
Optimization of parthenogenetic activation of rabbit oocytes and development of rabbit embryo by somatic cell nuclear transfer
Authors: Zhang Shun , Xiang Shu , Yang Jinji , Shi Jinyue , Guan Xiaomei , Jiang Jianrong , Wei Yingming , Luo Chan , Shi Deshun , Lu Fenghua 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThe present study explored a suitable parthenogenetic activation (PA) procedure for rabbit oocytes and investigated the developmental potential of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos using rabbit foetal fibroblasts (RFFs). The electrical activation had the optimal rate of blastocyst (14.06%) when oocytes were activated by three direct current (DC) pulses (40 V/mm, 20 μs each) followed by 6‐dimethylaminopurine (6‐DMAP) and cycloheximide (CHX) treatment; the blastocyst rate of ionomycin (ION) + 6‐DMAP + CHX (12.07%) activation was higher than that of ION + 6‐DMAP (8.6%) activation or ION + CHX (1.24%) activation; there was no significant difference in blastocyst rate between ION + 6‐DMAP + CHX and DC + 6‐DMAP + CHX groups. The blastocyst rate of ION + 6‐DMAP + CHX‐activated oocytes in the basic rabbit culture medium (M‐199) + 10% foetal bovine serum (FBS; 14.28%) was higher than that in buffalo conditioned medium (5.75%) or G1/G2 medium (0), and the blastocyst rate was increased when M‐199 + 10% FBS was supplemented with amino acids. Refreshing culture medium every day or every other day significantly increased the blastocyst rate. Treatment of donor cells with 0.5% FBS for 3–5 days increased blastocyst rate of SCNT embryos (33.33%) than no serum starvation (22.47%) or 0.5% FBS treatment for 6–9 days (23.61%); the blastocyst rate of SCNT embryos derived from nontransgenic RFFs was higher than that derived from transgenic RFFs by electroporation. The blastocyst development ability of SCNT embryos derived from RFFs by electroporation (32.22%) was higher than that of liposome (19.11%) or calcium phosphate (20.00%) transfection, and only the embryos from electroporation group have the EGFP expression (24.44%). In conclusion, this study for the first time systematically optimized the conditions for yield of rabbit embryo by SCNT.
Job quality and poverty in Latin America
Authors: Brummund Peter , Mann Christopher , Rodriguez‐Castelan Carlos 
Published: September 2018

AbstractLabor market dynamics have played a significant role in the remarkable social gains experienced in the recent past across Latin America. Assessing quality of employment, beyond the perspective of income, to include other fundamental aspects of jobs – such as whether jobs are secure, provide benefits, or are satisfying – can shed light on the sustainability of these achievements. This is particularly pertinent given the region's current economic slowdown. Using harmonized data for 15 countries in Latin America, this paper connects the role of job quality with the recent process of inclusive growth across the region, and particularly with how individuals worked their way out of poverty. The paper first proposes a multi‐dimensional measure for job quality, and then uses this measure to compare job quality across countries and over time. The paper also studies correlates of job quality and the relationship between job quality and poverty. One main finding is that job quality across the region began to increase in 2003. The best predictors of job quality are age, gender, firm size, formal employment, and union membership. Benefits and job satisfaction are the dimensions of job quality that are best correlated with not living in poverty.
Consumption, habit formation, and savings: Evidence from a rural household panel survey
Authors: Khanal Aditya R. , Mishra Ashok K. , Nedumaran S 
Published: September 2018

AbstractProtecting consumption from the effects of uninsured risk is vital for rural farming households, who tend to be poor and live close to subsistence level. Income uncertainty and habit formation play important roles in the consumption and savings. Variability in weather conditions has a strong linkage with variability in agricultural income in developing countries. This study analyzes consumption and saving decisions of rural farm households in India. Using household panel data for 4 years, we estimated consumption equation accounting for habit formation under income uncertainty. Our findings suggest an evidence for habit formation among rural households. Additionally, we found that both annual and seasonal weather risks significantly influence savings among rural households. Findings from this study also suggest a robust and vibrant farm economy and that the nonfarm economy could contribute to the economic well‐being of rural farming households.
Can participants predict where ambulance‐requiring cases occur at a half marathon?
Authors: Nilson Finn , Lindberg Fredrik , Palm Gunnar , Lundgren Linnea , Rayner David , Börjesson Mats , Thorsson Sofia , Khorram‐Manesh Amir , Carlström Eric 
Published: September 2018

ObjectivesDespite endurance races leading to a substantial number of ambulance‐requiring cases (ARC), little is known regarding where they occur, meaning that knowing where to place medical teams, ambulance pick‐up points, etc, is difficult. This article investigates whether the location of ARCs can be identified by race participants.MethodsUsing the world's largest half marathon (Gothenburg half marathon) as a case, 237 runners were asked, post‐race, to mark on a map which geographical point of the race was most exhausting. Using the level of agreement tests, these geographical points were then compared with the GPS positions of ARCs.ResultsAccording to the level of agreement tests, the most exhausting positions (MEP), as identified by participants, seem to be highly correlated to the location of ARCs. This study can also show that ambulance‐requiring cases seem to be more prevalent towards the end of the race and in uphill sections.ConclusionsBy asking participants where they found the race most exhausting it seems possible to identify high‐risk places for an ARC. From a practical perspective, using this method could considerably increase the safety of competitors as well as improving the cost‐effectiveness of safety interventions at endurance races. Further studies are needed to understand the specific risk factors of the high‐risk areas as well as characteristics of collapsed runners.
Online Genomes: Problematizing the disruptiveness of direct‐to‐consumer genetic tests
Authors: Turrini Mauro 
Published: September 2018

AbstractDirect‐to‐consumer genetic tests (DTCGT) provide individualized risk profiles for common diseases through social web techniques. Academic debates have predominantly denounced them as a potentially harmful commercialization of genetics and focused on how laypeople might (mis)understand and (mis)use this information. DTCGT has also stimulated a heterogeneous set of methods and theoretical perspectives in the social sciences, which have drawn on but also complicated a purely medical understanding.DTCGT is unanimously deemed disruptive, albeit for a variety of reasons. The different underlying notions of disruptiveness correspond to an implicit sociology of information resonating with a main sociological framework, namely, rational actor theory, governmentality studies, and ecological approaches to digital practices and infrastructures. Accordingly, three corpora are identified. The first conceives of disruption in terms of medical impact on prospective patients. The second proposes a biopolitical interpretation by framing DTCGT as vectors of new governmentality based on making individuals responsible for disease prediction and prevention. The third scrutinizes users' engagements with data and infrastructures at the intersection of informatics and genomics and locates DTCGT within the broader process of blossoming health digitalization. Accordingly, the disruptive issues at stake mainly concern political and economic aspects related to data sharing and crowdsourcing.
A contrast of lead immobilization via bioapatite under elevated CO2 between acidic and alkaline soils
Authors: Tian D. , Lai Z. , Zou X. , Guo C. , Tang L. , Su M. , Li Z. , Hu S. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThe feasibility of Pb immobilization via bioapatite (BAp) and CO2 in the acidic red soil (RS) and saline‐alkaline soil (SS) was compared in this study. The elevated CO2 (10% in air) significantly promoted the dissolution of BAp in water, that is, the concentrations of released P were enhanced from 2 to 20 ppm as pH decreased from 6.9 to 5.6. Then, it was shown that 30–40% TCLP leached Pb was removed from RS and SS, with the combination of BAp addition and CO2 elevation. In RS, the addition of BAp (even without CO2) could significantly increase water‐soluble P. Moreover, some Pb cations were adsorbed onto iron (hydr)oxides within RS. In contrast, CO2 elevation is essential for enhancing P release in SS as it dramatically increased the dissolution of phosphates. The released P then reacted with Pb cations to form insoluble pyromorphite. Therefore, this combination is effective for Pb immobilization in saline‐alkaline soil whereas adding solely BAp is feasible for acid soil.
Effects of pelletized straw on soil nutrient properties in relation to crop yield
Authors: Zhang L. , Wang J. , Pang H. C. , Zhang J. T. , Guo J. J. , Dong G. H. , Cong P. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractPoor soil‐residue contact from field‐chopped straw (CS) application restricts the efficient incorporation and rapid decomposition of crop residues in intensive cropping systems. Pelletized straw (PS), which has a high bulk density and relatively small size, can improve this contact, but its effect on soil fertility after incorporation is not well known. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted over four cropping seasons in Shandong Province, China, to evaluate the effects of corn CS and PS incorporation (6 t/ha) on soil organic carbon (SOC), available nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P), available potassium (K), crop yields and economic benefits. Compared with the SOC and available N, P and K concentrations from 0 to 60 cm under the no straw incorporation (CK) treatment, the concentrations under the CS and PS treatments were higher but decreased gradually after treatment application. In the topsoil (0–20 cm) under the CS and PS treatments, these concentrations increased by 1.6% and 10.0%, by 18.5% and 25.8%, by 21.7% and 29.3%, and by 9.2% and 13.0%, respectively. Compared with the soil fertility in the CS plots, soil fertility in the PS plots improved, but significant differences were recorded only in the first season. The highest crop yield each season was obtained from the PS plots: wheat yields were 8.8% and 10.3% higher in the PS plots than those in the CS and CK plots, respectively, and corn yields were 2.8% and 16.9% higher, respectively. Furthermore, the net economic return averaged across 2 yr was 7.8% and 23.9% greater with the PS treatment than that with the CS and CK treatments, respectively. Thus, PS may constitute an efficient and economical approach for improving soil fertility and increasing crop yields in intensive cropping systems.
What clinical rotation factors have an impact on trainee success?
Authors: Miller Maxx , Mullen Ashley , Gardner Aimee 
Published: September 2018

SummaryBackgroundEducators and trainees both recognise that autonomy, the number of patient encounters and setting learning outcomes are all vital for a successful residency. This study examined whether these clinical rotation characteristics have an impact on trainee success in an orthotic and prosthetic clinical residency.MethodsTwo cohorts of resident trainees rated their rotation characteristics (autonomy, patient encounters and learning outcomes [1, significantly below expectations; 5, exceeds expectations]) and self‐competency (77 items [1, not at all able; 5, very able]) at three points during an 18‐month residency. Rotation performance (0–100, where 100 is the highest score) was ascertained with preceptor ratings and test scores. Means and correlations were derived.ResultsData from 38 trainees were examined. The mean self‐competency and rotation performance scores improved from time 1 to time 3 (from 4.14 ± 0.43 to 4.36 ± 0.38 [p < 0.01]; from 90.74 ± 5.15 to 92.62 ± 4.55 [p < 0.05]). Autonomy correlated with performance at time 1 (p < 0.05) only, and did not relate to self‐competency at any point. Neither the number of patient encounters nor the presence of learning outcomes were associated with performance or self‐competency at any point.ConclusionsThese data show that over time our trainees become more competent, as rated by both themselves and their preceptors. These data do not suggest that the number of patient encounters and the presence of learning outcomes have an impact on trainee competence. Autonomy may play the largest role at the beginning of the residency as students make the transition to clinical practice.
A pair of phospho‐base methyltransferases important for phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis in Arabidopsis
Authors: Liu Yu‐chi , Lin Ying‐Chen , Kanehara Kazue , Nakamura Yuki 
Published: September 2018

SummaryPhosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) is a predominant membrane lipid class in eukaryotes. Phospho‐base N‐methyltransferase (PMT) catalyzes a critical step in PtdCho biosynthesis. However, in Arabidopsis thaliana, the discovery of involvement of the specific PMT isoform in PtdCho biosynthesis remains elusive. Here, we show that PMT1 and PMT3 redundantly play an essential role in phosphocholine (PCho) biosynthesis, a prerequisite for PtdCho production. A pmt1 pmt3 double mutant was devoid of PCho, which affected PtdCho biosynthesis in vivo, showing severe growth defects in post‐embryonic development. PMT1 and PMT3 were both highly expressed in the vasculature. The pmt1 pmt3 mutants had specifically affected leaf vein development and showed pale‐green seedlings that were rescued by exogenous supplementation of PCho. We suggest that PMT1 and PMT3 are the primary enzymes for PCho biosynthesis and are involved in PtdCho biosynthesis and vascular development in Arabidopsis seedlings.