bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Diverse phenotypic responses and phosphate content in foxtail millet genotypes under greenhouse and field conditions
Authors: Ceasar S. Antony , Ramakrishnan M. , Vinod K. K. , Roch G. Victor , Upadhyaya Hari D. , Baker Alison , Ignacimuthu S. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractPhosphorous (P) is an important macronutrient for the growth of all agricultural crops. This study reports phenotype analysis for P responses in field (two different seasons, monsoon and summer) and greenhouse, using 54 genotypes of foxtail millet (Setaria italica) under P-fertilized (P+) and unfertilized (P-) conditions. Variation was seen for plant height, leaf number and length, tillering ability and seed yield traits. Genotypes ISe 1234 and ISe 1541 were P+ responders, and the genotypes ISe 1181, ISe 1655, ISe 783 and ISe 1892 tend more towards low P tolerance for total seed yield. Genotypes that performed well under P-conditions were almost as productive as genotypes that performed well under P+ conditions suggesting some genotypes are well adapted to nutrient-poor soils. In the greenhouse, significant variation was seen for root hair density and root hair number and for fresh and dry weights of shoot and root under P-stress. However, there was not much difference in the shoot and root total P and inorganic phosphate (Pi) levels of five selected high and low responding genotypes. In the root and leaf tissues, total P and Pi contents of five high responding genotypes were higher than the five low responding genotypes.HighlightEnormous phenotypic and phosphate content variation of foxtail millet under low-phosphate supply in greenhouse and natural field conditions identifies genotypic plasticity for future breeding for improved P use efficiency.
Membrane dynamics of Notch-bound γ-secretase produces two distinct Notch conformations
Authors: Tang N. , Dehury B. , Kepp K. P. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractCleavage of Notch by the major intramembrane aspartyl protease complex γ-secretase is a central event in cell regulation and is also important to Alzheimer’s disease, with more than 200 mutations in the catalytic subunit of γ-secretase (PS1) causing severe early-onset forms of the disease. Recently, cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has revealed the electron density of the protein-Notch complex in frozen solution, indicating major changes upon substrate binding and a possible helix unwinding to expose peptide bonds. In order understand the all-atom dynamics that cause this process, and to test the Notch binding in a membrane protein rather than solution, we developed an all-atom model of mature wild-type γ-secretase bound to Notch in a complete membrane-water system and studied the system using three independent 500-nanosecond molecular dynamics simulations. Our ensembles are in essential agreement with known cryo-EM data. As in previous simulations we find unusual β-strand transitions in exposed parts of PS1. We also observe the atomic helix motions that cause loss of helicity in bound Notch by direct comparison to corresponding 500 ns simulations of free Notch, in particular five residues to the N-terminal site of the primary cleavage site. Most importantly, we identify three conformation states, with two of them differing in the Notch-bound catalytic site. These dynamics produce a ping-pong relationship of positioning the S3 cleavage sites of Notch relative to the aspartates. These conformation states are not visible in the cryo-EM data; probably the density is an average snapshot of the two states. Our identified conformation states rationalize how Notch cleavage can be imprecise and yield multiple products. Our identified conformation states may aid efforts to develop conformation-selective drugs that target C99 and Notch cleavage differently.Statement of SignificanceThe atomic dynamics underlying cleavage of Notch by γ-secretase in the membrane is of major biological importance. Electron microscopy has revealed the protein-Notch complex in frozen solution, showing major changes upon substrate binding and helix unwinding to expose peptide bonds, but does not explain why substrate cleavage is imprecise and produces several products. Our model of wild-type γ-secretase bound to Notch in a complete membrane-water system equilibrated by 3 × 500 nanoseconds of molecular dynamics strongly complements the electron microscopy data: We identify the specific loop and helix motions that cause the β-strand transitions in PS1 and the loss of helicity in specific residues of bound Notch. We identify different conformations of Notch, which importantly affect the S3 cleavage site; the open state may cause the imprecise cleavage with earlier release of products. Our identified states can aid development of conformation-selective drugs that target C99 and Notch cleavage differently.
Abnormally long audit report lags and future stock price crash risk: evidence from China
Authors: Habib Ahsan , Huang Hedy Jiaying 
Published: April 2019

PurposeAlthough a substantial body of literature investigates the determinants of audit report lag (ARL), scant empirical evidence exists on the consequences of ARL. The purpose of this paper is to examine the association between abnormally long ARL and future stock price crash risk.Design/methodology/approachThis quantitative study employed a large scale (14,445 firm-year observations) of annual financials, audit and ownership information for the Chinese listed companies during 2002–2013 which were retrieved from the China Stock Market and Accounting Research database.FindingsThis study finds evidence that abnormally long ARL increases the risk of a future stock price crash. Furthermore, the study finds that this adverse consequence is more pronounced for firms with a poor internal control environment.Practical implicationsRecently literature started to explore the consequences of abnormal ARL such as going concern audit opinion and restatements in the subsequent periods. This paper reveals that abnormal ARL has consequences for investor wealth losses as well. This is relevant in China, where the ongoing economic growth has attracted, and will continue to attract, a growing body of domestic and international investors. Understanding what factors could expose investors to wealth losses is of paramount importance for allocating their scarce capital.Originality/valueThis study extends the scant literature on the consequences of ARL, and provides useful insights for the Chinese regulatory authorities when considering the appropriateness of the current filing deadline for listed firms.
Comparison of advanced economies’ performance in bubbles mitigation
Authors: Gallego Neira Emilio , Martínez de Ibarreta Carlos 
Published: April 2019

Purpose
This paper aims to analyze the effectiveness of macroprudential and fiscal policies taken from a sample of ten advanced economies in relation to the mitigation of real-estate and credit bubbles by comparing their performance.

Design/methodology/approach
This comparison is elaborated with a seemingly unrelated regression methodology, which allows the assessment of individual countries’ performance and improves the estimation of the dependent variables versus an individual regression.

Findings
The analysis concludes that countercyclical measures have been more effective to control the growth of household debt. Furthermore, this study validates that macroprudential measures focused on the residential sector meet their objective of controlling the growth of house prices, whereas those macroprudential measures with more generic targets are effective to control the growth of household debt.

Originality/value
As opposed to previous panel-regression studies, which have analyzed the performance of macroprudential and fiscal measures in generic terms, this paper compares the performance of these tools in ten advanced economies. Based on the analysis performed, several recommendations are derived for policymakers.
The internationalization process of Chinese research institutions since the reform and opening-up
Authors: Chen Wu , Li Yanping 
Published: April 2019

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to systematically review the evolution, characteristics, motivations, entry patterns, organizational structure and effectiveness of the internationalization of Chinese research institutions in the past 40 years of reform and opening-up.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper describes the evolution and practice of Chinese research institutions “going out” by constructing a theoretical framework diagram and uses official statistics and existing research to explain the authors’ points.

Findings
The research results show that the internationalization of research institutions has undergone four phases: sprout period, starting period, adjustment period and accelerating period. It shows a rapid growth of investment scale, diversification of investment entities, rich and varied forms, and transition to major countries along the “One Belt and One Road.” Expanding the international market, tracking and acquiring technological frontiers, nurturing domestic R&D talents, and evading the risks of political, economic, cultural and scientific differences between home and host countries are the main motivations for Chinese research institutions to “go global.” Multinational corporations have entered the host country with modes such as M&A, greenfield investment and joint R&D alliances in their own strengths and also presented a variety of organizational structures such as integrated R&D networks.

Originality/value
This paper systematically summarizes the internationalized experience model of research institutions with Chinese characteristics since the reform and opening-up. From the perspective of internationalization model transformation, policy integration and cooperation among emerging economies, it presents the opportunities and challenges faced by the research institutions in the process of internationalization and provides a theoretical basis for improving the internationalization ability of research institutions.
End-to-end learning via a convolutional neural network for cancer cell line classification
Authors: Akogo Darlington A. , Palmer Xavier-Lewis 
Published: April 2019

Purpose
Computer vision for automated analysis of cells and tissues usually include extracting features from images before analyzing such features via various machine learning and machine vision algorithms. The purpose of this work is to explore and demonstrate the ability of a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) to classify cells pictured via brightfield microscopy without the need of any feature extraction, using a minimum of images, improving work-flows that involve cancer cell identification.

Design/methodology/approach
The methodology involved a quantitative measure of the performance of a Convolutional Neural Network in distinguishing between two cancer lines. In their approach, they trained, validated and tested their 6-layer CNN on 1,241 images of MDA-MB-468 and MCF7 breast cancer cell line in an end-to-end fashion, allowing the system to distinguish between the two different cancer cell types.

Findings
They obtained a 99% accuracy, providing a foundation for more comprehensive systems.

Originality/value
Value can be found in that systems based on this design can be used to assist cell identification in a variety of contexts, whereas a practical implication can be found that these systems can be deployed to assist biomedical workflows quickly and at low cost. In conclusion, this system demonstrates the potentials of end-to-end learning systems for faster and more accurate automated cell analysis.
Incorporating the disease triangle framework for testing the effect of soil‐borne pathogens on tree species diversity
Authors: Liu Yu , He Fangliang 
Published: April 2019

Abstract

The enemy‐induced Janzen–Connell (JC) effect, a classic model invoking conspecific negative density dependence (CNDD) and distance dependence, is a primary biodiversity maintenance hypothesis. Yet, conflicting evidence for the JC effect leads to disagreement about its role in maintaining forest diversity.

We focus this review on soil‐borne pathogens, which are the primary agent inducing the JC effect in many forest ecosystems. Although the test of the pathogen‐induced JC effect in ecology critically rests on the seedling mortality caused by soil pathogens, what has not been explicitly explored in the early literature but has increasingly received attention is the long‐recognized fact that the environment can alter virulence of pathogens and host susceptibility (thus pathogen–host interactions), as predicted by the classic disease triangle framework enlightened by pathology research in agricultural systems.

Here, following the disease triangle framework we review evidence on how the pathogen‐induced JC effect may be contingent on context (e.g. environmental conditions, pathogen inoculum load and genetic divergence in host and pathogen populations). The reviewed evidence reveals and clarifies the conditions where pathogens may or may not cause disease to hosts, thus contributing to reconciling the inconsistent results about the pathogen‐induced JC effect in the literature. The context dependence of the disease triangle predicts that the pathogen‐induced JC effect would change under global change.

Gaining insights from evidence that the pathogen‐induced JC effect is context‐dependent, we suggest that future tests on the JC hypothesis be conducted under the framework of disease triangle, and we stress the necessity by controlling the effect of context factors on plant–pathogen interactions when testing for the JC effect. We conclude the review by proposing three lines of future research for testing the importance of the JC effect in maintaining global forest tree species diversity, with a particular emphasis on testing the effect of global warming on the strength of pathogen–host interactions for better predicting changes of forest biodiversity under climate change.

A plain language summary is available for this article.
The association between a nurse cushion plant and a cluster root‐bearing tree species alters the plant community structure
Authors: Piper Frida I. , Fajardo Alex , Baeza Gabriela , Cavieres Lohengrin A. 
Published: April 2019

Abstract

Several plant species have the potential to facilitate the presence of other plant species in the community, and yet most of our knowledge on this phenomenon comes from studies considering only one facilitator species. What happens when there are two facilitator species in the community? Are the facilitation effects by one species being altered by the presence of a potentially second facilitator species and vice‐versa (i.e. bidirectional facilitation)?

Knowing that cushion plants ameliorate stress and improve soil fertility and that cluster root‐bearing species mobilize soil phosphorus (P), we investigated the potential occurrence of bidirectional facilitation via stress amelioration and nutrient exchange in the cushion plant Acaena integerrima (Rosaceae) and the cluster root‐bearing tree species Embothrium coccineum (Proteaceae).

In southern Chile, where both species naturally occur, we compared aspects of the vegetative and reproductive performance of each species growing in association or not. We also determined if Embothrium alters the nurse effects of Acaena cushions on other species by evaluating species richness, frequency, and abundance in cushion plants with and without Embothrium. To infer the existence of nutrient exchange, we determined soil and leaf nutrient levels of both species.

Species richness, frequency and abundance were higher within than outside Acaena cushions. Although the presence of Embothrium did not enhance the overall positive effects of Acaena on species composition, nine species occurred more frequently when Embothrium was present. Embothrium occurred more frequently and had a higher survival and leaf nitrogen (N) concentration when growing with Acaena than without it, although its growth and leaf P concentration were lower. In contrast, Acaena had a lower number of and mass of fruits per inflorescence and a higher leaf P concentration when growing with versus growing without Embothrium.

Synthesis. The cushion plant Acaena integerrima facilitates the occurrence of many species in the community, including the cluster root‐bearing species Embothrium coccineum, which in turn enhances the facilitation effect of Acaena on certain species. When Embothrium and Acaena occur together, the latter improves its nutritional status but reduces its fitness, implying a lack of bidirectional facilitation.
Untargeted Metabolite Profiling of Adipose Tissue in Hyperlipidemia Rats Exposed to Hawthorn Ethanol Extracts
Authors: Hu Chuanqin , Zhang Yu , Liu Guorong , Liu Yingli , Wang Jing , Sun Baoguo 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThe study aimed to explore the metabolic changes of adipose tissue of hyperlipidemia rats with hawthorn ethanol extracts (HEE) consumption by a high‐throughput metabolomics approach. HEE were mainly composed of chlorogenic acid, hyperoside, isoquercitrin, rutin, vitexin, quercetin, and apigenin by HPLC analysis. HEE administration significantly lowered levels of the total cholesterols, triglyceride and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol as compared to the high‐fat diet model. Gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry was used to identify adipose metabolite profiles. Numerous endogenous molecules were altered by high‐fat diet and restored following intervention of HEE. Metabolites elevated in adipose, includingl‐threonine, aspartic acid, glutamine, mannose, inositol and oleic acid, were detected after HEE consumption. Fifteen metabolites were identified as potential biomarkers of hyperlipidemia. Pathway analysis showed that most of the discriminant metabolites were included in fatty acid biosynthesis, galactose metabolism, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, arginine and proline metabolism, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, glycerolipid metabolism and steroid biosynthesis. These metabolites and metabolic networks we found offer new insights into exploring the molecular mechanisms of lipid‐lowering of hawthorn ethanol extracts on adipose tissue of rats.Practical ApplicationThere was a very high proportion of hyperlipidemia in China. Hawthorn is attracting increasing attention owing to their health benefits, low toxicity, effectiveness and might be suitable for long‐term use.
Impact of e‐scooter injuries on Emergency Department imaging
Authors: Mayhew Laura J , Bergin Colleen 
Published: April 2019

AbstractIntroductionSince the introduction of a shared e‐scooter service to Auckland in October there have been multiple media reports of associated injuries, but no quantitation of the number or severity of these injuries, or the impact on hospital emergency department services in Auckland.MethodsWe performed a retrospective chart review on all patients referred to Auckland hospital ED radiology with the indication containing ‘e‐scooter’ between 15 August 2018 and 15 December 2018. All requests were screened to ensure that the injury was caused by an e‐scooter. Recorded data included patient demographics, type of imaging utilised, injury type, and whether admission or surgery was required.ResultsSixty‐four patients met the inclusion criteria, only one of these was prior to introduction of shared e‐scooters on 15 October 2018. Of these, there were 27 limb fractures, 3 dislocations, a fractured spine, 12 patients with concussion, 1 extra‐dural bleed, 9 facial/skull fractures and multiple soft tissue injuries. Almost 40% of the patients required admission to a specialty service following imaging, and 25.4% required surgery. A total of 221 plain films and 47 CT scans were performed for e‐scooter injuries in the 2‐month period after their introduction.ConclusionIntroduction of shared e‐scooters has resulted in a large number of serious related injuries that have required urgent radiology imaging. Many of these patients required further specialist consultation or surgery, and place an increased burden on overstretched emergency department services.
Ventriculo‐amniotic shunting for severe fetal ventriculomegaly
Authors: Litwinska Magdalena , Litwinska Ewelina , Czaj Marta , Polis Bartosz , Polis Lech , Szaflik Krzysztof 
Published: April 2019

AbstractIntroductionSevere fetal cerebral ventriculomegaly, observed in about 1 in 1000 newborns, is associated with a high risk of perinatal death and neurodevelopmental delay in survivors. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of ventriculo‐amniotic shunting for drainage of severe fetal cerebral ventriculomegaly and the neurodevelopment of survivors at the age of 2 years.Material and methodsThis was a retrospective study of 44 fetuses with severe bilateral ventriculomegaly treated with ventriculo‐amniotic shunting in a tertiary fetal therapy center between 2010 and 2015.ResultsShunt insertion was successfully carried out at a median gestational age of 25 weeks (range 20‐33 weeks). There were three fetal deaths within 24 hours of the procedure and 41 live births at a median gestational age of 37 weeks (range 28‐39 weeks). Neurodevelopment at 2 years of age was evaluated using the Bayley scale in the 38 survivors. In the 27 cases with isolated ventriculomegaly 19 (70.4%; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 51.5%‐84.2%) had normal or mild neurodevelopmental delay and 8 (29.6%; 95% CI 15.6%‐48.5%) were moderately or severely delayed. In the 11 with non‐isolated ventriculomegaly 2 (18.2%; 95% CI 5.1%‐4.8%) had normal or mild neurodevelopmental delay and 9 (81.8%; 95% CI 52.3%‐94.9%) babies were moderately or severely delayed.ConclusionsVentriculo‐amniotic shunting is an option for the management of severe ventriculomegaly and results in normalization of the ventricular diameter. However, a high proportion of survivors have neurodevelopmental delay and the possible beneficial effect of ventriculo‐amniotic shunting needs to be assessed by randomized studies.
Fabrication of Chitosan/Polypyrrole‐coated poly(L‐lactic acid)/Polycaprolactone aligned fibre films for enhancement of neural cell compatibility and neurite growth
Authors: Xu Yaxuan , Huang Zhongbing , Pu Ximing , Yin Guangfu , Zhang Jiankai 
Published: April 2019

AbstractObjectiveChitosan (CS) and polycaprolactone (PCL) were added into a nerve scaffold of poly(L‐lactide acid) (PLLA)/polypyrrole (PPy)‐based fibre films to solve the unmatch with the nerve strength and the aseptic inflammation from PLLA.MethodsPoly (L‐lactide acid)‐polycaprolactone (PLLA/PCL) fibre films coated with chitosan (CS) and polypyrrole (PPy) were prepared by electrospinning of aligned PLLA/PCL fibres, electrochemical deposition of PPy nanoparticles and in situ doping of CS in PPy. PC12 cells were electrically stimulated with 100 mV for 2 hours every day via CS/PPy‐PLLA/PCL fibre film to promote the neurite growth.ResultsThe surface conductivity and tensile strength of CS/PPy‐PLLA/PCL fibre films were 1.03 s/m and 13 MPa, respectively. CS content in fibre films was about 7.5 mg/cm2, improving the pH value (reached to 5.1) of immersion solution of the fibre film at 16 days. Compared with PPy‐PLLA/PCL fibre film, more and longer axons were grown out from PC12 cells cultured on CS/PPy‐PLLA/PCL fibre film, indicating the positive effect of CS in fibre film on axon growth. The cell differentiation rate and neurite length on CS/PPy‐PLLA/PCL fibre film reached to 38% and 75 μm, respectively. These results suggest the promotion of electrical stimulation on neurite growth and alignment.ConclusionsA synergistic mechanism about the promotion of CS, electrical stimulation and aligned fibres on PC12 cells differentiation, axon outgrowth was proposed. These results indicated the potential application of CS/PPy‐PLLA/PCL fibre film in the field of the nerve repair and regeneration.