bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Syphilis testing practices in the Americas
Authors: Trinh Thuy T. , Kamb Mary L. , Luu Minh , Ham D. Cal , Perez Freddy 
Published: June 2017

AbstractObjectiveTo present the findings of the Pan American Health Organization's 2014 survey on syphilis testing policies and practices in the Americas.MethodsRepresentatives of national/regional reference and large, lower‐level laboratories from 35 member states were invited to participate. A semi‐structured, electronically administered questionnaire collected data on syphilis tests, algorithms, equipment/commodities, challenges faced and basic quality assurance (QA) strategies employed (i.e. daily controls, standard operating procedures, technician training, participating in external QA programmes, on‐site evaluations).ResultsThe 69 participating laboratories from 30 (86%) member states included 41 (59%) national/regional reference and 28 (41%) lower‐level laboratories. Common syphilis tests conducted were the rapid plasma reagin (RPR) (62% of surveyed laboratories), venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) (54%), fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA‐ABS) (41%) and Treponema pallidum haemagglutination assay (TPHA) (32%). Only three facilities reported using direct detection methods, and 28 (41% overall, 32% of lower‐level facilities) used rapid tests. Most laboratories (62%) used only traditional testing algorithms (non‐treponemal screening and treponemal confirmatory testing); however, 12% used only a reverse sequence algorithm (treponemal test first), and 14% employed both algorithms. Another nine (12%) laboratories conducted only one type of serologic test. Although most reference (97%) and lower‐level (89%) laboratories used at least one QA strategy, only 16% reported using all five basic strategies. Commonly reported challenges were stock‐outs of essential reagents or commodities (46%), limited staff training (73%) and insufficient equipment (39%).ConclusionsMany reference and clinical laboratories in the Americas face challenges in conducting appropriate syphilis testing and in ensuring quality of testing.
Storage time of platelet concentrates and all‐cause bacteremia in hematologic patients
Authors: Kreuger Aukje L. , Middelburg Rutger A. , Bank Cock M.C. , Beckers Erik A.M. , van Gammeren Adriaan J. , Leyte Anja , Rondeel Jan M.M. , de Vooght Karen M.K. , Weerkamp Floor , Zwaginga Jaap Jan , Kerkhoffs Jean Louis H. , van der Bom Johanna G. 
Published: June 2017

BACKGROUNDExtension of storage time of platelet (PLT) concentrates may result in an increased risk of bacteremia, directly via transfusion of contaminated products or indirectly via transfusion‐related immunomodulation. We aimed to quantify the association of storage time of PLT concentrates and all‐cause bacteremia in hematologic patients.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSWe established a cohort of hematologic patients who received a PLT transfusion between 2005 and 2015. Cases were defined as patients with a bacteremia the day after transfusion and matched to as many controls as possible. A conditional logistic regression was performed, stratified by storage medium.RESULTSAmong 3514 patients receiving 36,032 PLT concentrates stored in plasma, 613 cases of bacteremia were found. The relative risk of all‐cause bacteremia the day after transfusion was 0.80 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.58‐1.12) for PLT concentrates stored 3 to 4 days and 0.67 (95% CI, 0.49‐0.92) for at least 5 days, compared to no more than 2 days. Among 1527 patients receiving 11,822 PLT concentrates stored in PLT additive solution, 182 cases of bacteremia were found. The relative risk of all‐cause bacteremia was 1.14 (95% CI, 0.70‐1.84) for PLT concentrates stored for 3 to 4 days and 1.19 (95% CI, 0.70‐2.01) for at least 5 days, compared to not more than 2 days.CONCLUSIONStorage time of PLT concentrates was not associated with increased occurrence of all‐cause bacteremia the day after transfusion. If anything, fewer cases of bacteremia occurred with increasing storage time of PLT concentrates in plasma. These bacteremias are not directly caused by transfusion of a contaminated product and the underlying mechanism warrants further research.
An exonic missense mutation c.28G>A is associated with weak B blood group by affecting RNA splicing of the ABO gene
Authors: Cai Xiaohong , Qian Chengrui , Wu Wenman , Lei Hang , Ding Qiulan , Zou Wei , Xiang Dong , Wang Xuefeng 
Published: June 2017

BACKGROUNDThe amino acid substitutions caused by ABO gene mutations are usually predicted to impact glycosyltransferase's function or its biosynthesis. Here we report an ABO exonic missense mutation that affects B‐antigen expression by decreasing the mRNA level of the ABO gene rather than the amino acid change.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSSerologic studies including plasma total GTB transfer capacity were performed. The exon sequences of the ABO gene were analyzed by Sanger sequencing. B310 cDNA with c.28G>A (p.G10R) mutation was expressed in HeLa cells and total GTB transfer capacity in cell supernatant was measured. Flow cytometry was performed on these HeLa cells after transfection, and agglutination of Hela‐Bweak cells was also examined. The mRNA of the ABO gene was analyzed by direct sequencing and real‐time reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction. A minigene construct was prepared to evaluate the potential of splicing.RESULTSWhile plasma total GTB transfer capacity was undetectable in this B3‐like individual, the relative percentage of antigen‐expressing cells and mean fluorescence index of the Bweak red blood cells (RBCs) were 19 and 14% of normal B RBCs, respectively. There was no significant difference of total GTB transfer capacity in cell supernatant and B‐antigen expression on cell surfaces between HeLa cells transfected with B310 cDNA and B cDNA. The mRNA expression level of B310 in peripheral whole blood was significantly reduced. The amount of splicing is significantly lower in c.28G>A construct compared to that in wild‐type construct after transfection in K562 cells.CONCLUSIONABO c.28G>A mutation may cause B3‐like subgroup by affecting RNA splicing of the ABO gene.
Independent sets, matchings, and occupancy fractions
Authors: Davies Ewan , Jenssen Matthew , Perkins Will , Roberts Barnaby 
Published: June 2017

AbstractWe prove tight upper bounds on the logarithmic derivative of the independence and matching polynomials of ‐regular graphs. For independent sets, this theorem is a strengthening of the results of Kahn, Galvin and Tetali, and Zhao showing that a union of copies of maximizes the number of independent sets and the independence polynomial of a ‐regular graph.For matchings, this shows that the matching polynomial and the total number of matchings of a ‐regular graph are maximized by a union of copies of . Using this we prove the asymptotic upper matching conjecture of Friedland, Krop, Lundow, and Markström.In probabilistic language, our main theorems state that for all ‐regular graphs and all , the occupancy fraction of the hard‐core model and the edge occupancy fraction of the monomer‐dimer model with fugacity are maximized by . Our method involves constrained optimization problems over distributions of random variables and applies to all ‐regular graphs directly, without a reduction to the bipartite case.
Identification of an Atypical Enzootic Bovine Leukosis in Japan by Using a Novel Classification of Bovine Leukemia Based on Immunophenotypic Analysis
Authors: Nishimori Asami , Konnai Satoru , Okagawa Tomohiro , Maekawa Naoya , Goto Shinya , Ikebuchi Ryoyo , Nakahara Ayako , Chiba Yuzumi , Ikeda Masaho , Murata Shiro , Ohashi Kazuhiko 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACT
Bovine leukemia is classified into two types: enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL) and sporadic bovine leukosis (SBL). EBL is caused by infection with bovine leukemia virus (BLV), which induces persistent lymphocytosis and B-cell lymphoma in cattle after a long latent period. Although it has been demonstrated that BLV-associated lymphoma occurs predominantly in adult cattle of >3 to 5 years, suspicious cases of EBL onset in juvenile cattle were recently reported in Japan. To investigate the current status of bovine leukemia in Japan, we performed immunophenotypic analysis of samples from 50 cattle that were clinically diagnosed as having bovine leukemia. We classified the samples into five groups on the basis of the analysis and found two different types of EBL: classic EBL (cEBL), which has the familiar phenotype commonly known as EBL, and polyclonal EBL (pEBL), which exhibited neoplastic proliferation of polyclonal B cells. Moreover, there were several atypical EBL cases even in cEBL, including an early onset of EBL in juvenile cattle. A comparison of the cell marker expressions among cEBL, pEBL, and B-cell-type SBL (B-SBL) revealed characteristic patterns in B-cell leukemia, and these patterns could be clearly differentiated from those of healthy phenotypes, whereas it was difficult to discriminate between cEBL, pEBL, and B-SBL only by the expression patterns of cell markers. This study identified novel characteristics of bovine leukemia that should contribute to a better understanding of the mechanism underlying tumor development in BLV infection.
Complete Genome Sequencing of Influenza A Viruses within Swine Farrow-to-Wean Farms Reveals the Emergence, Persistence, and Subsidence of Diverse Viral Genotypes
Authors: Diaz Andres , Marthaler Douglas , Culhane Marie , Sreevatsan Srinand , Alkhamis Moh , Torremorell Montserrat 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACT

Influenza A viruses (IAVs) are endemic in swine and represent a public health risk. However, there is limited information on the genetic diversity of swine IAVs within farrow-to-wean farms, which is where most pigs are born. In this longitudinal study, we sampled 5 farrow-to-wean farms for a year and collected 4,190 individual nasal swabs from three distinct pig subpopulations. Of these, 207 (4.9%) samples tested PCR positive for IAV, and 124 IAVs were isolated. We sequenced the complete genomes of 123 IAV isolates and found 31 H1N1, 26 H1N2, 63 H3N2, and 3 mixed IAVs. Based on the IAV hemagglutinin, seven different influenza A viral groups (VGs) were identified. Most of the remaining IAV gene segments allowed us to differentiate the same VGs, although an additional viral group was identified for gene segment 3 (PA). Moreover, the codetection of more than one IAV VG was documented at different levels (farm, subpopulation, and individual pigs), highlighting the environment for potential IAV reassortment. Additionally, 3 out of 5 farms contained IAV isolates (
n
= 5) with gene segments from more than one VG, and 79% of all the IAVs sequenced contained a signature mutation (S31N) in the matrix gene that has been associated with resistance to the antiviral amantadine. Within farms, some IAVs were detected only once, while others were detected for 283 days. Our results illustrate the maintenance and subsidence of different IAVs within swine farrow-to-wean farms over time, demonstrating that pig subpopulation dynamics are important to better understand the diversity and epidemiology of swine IAVs.

IMPORTANCE
On a global scale, swine are one of the main reservoir species for influenza A viruses (IAVs) and play a key role in the transmission of IAVs between species. Additionally, the 2009 IAV pandemics highlighted the role of pigs in the emergence of IAVs with pandemic potential. However, limited information is available regarding the diversity and distribution of swine IAVs on farrow-to-wean farms, where novel IAVs can emerge. In this study, we studied 5 swine farrow-to-wean farms for a year and characterized the genetic diversity of IAVs among three different pig subpopulations commonly housed on this type of farm. Using next-generation-sequencing technologies, we demonstrated the complex distribution and diversity of IAVs among the pig subpopulations studied. Our results demonstrated the dynamic evolution of IAVs within farrow-to-wean farms, which is crucial to improve health interventions to reduce the risk of transmission between pigs and from pigs to people.
Smoothness of refinable function vectors on ℝn
Authors: Tinaztepe Ramazan , Jacobs Denise , Heil Christopher 
Published: June 2017

Let [Formula: see text] be a dilation matrix, an [Formula: see text] expansive matrix that maps [Formula: see text] into itself. Let [Formula: see text] be a finite subset of [Formula: see text] and for [Formula: see text] let [Formula: see text] be [Formula: see text] complex matrices. The refinement equation corresponding to [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] is [Formula: see text] A solution [Formula: see text] if one exists, is called a refinable vector function or a vector scaling function of multiplicity [Formula: see text] This paper characterizes the higher-order smoothness of compactly supported solutions of the refinement equation, in terms of the [Formula: see text]-norm joint spectral radius of a finite set of finite matrices determined by the coefficients [Formula: see text]
Memory T Cells Expressing an NKG2D-CAR Efficiently Target Osteosarcoma Cells
Authors: Fernández Lucía , Metais Jean-Yves , Escudero Adela , Vela María , Valentín Jaime , Vallcorba Isabel , Leivas Alejandra , Torres Juan , Valeri Antonio , Patiño-García Ana , Martínez Joaquín , Leung Wing , Pérez-Martínez Antonio 
Published: June 2017

Abstract
Purpose: NKG2D ligands (NKG2DL) are expressed on various tumor types and immunosuppressive cells within tumor microenvironments, providing suitable targets for cancer therapy. Various immune cells express NKG2D receptors, including natural killer (NK) cells and CD8+ T cells. Interactions between NKG2DL and NKG2D receptors are essential for NK-cell elimination of osteosarcoma tumor-initiating cells. In this report, we used NKG2D–NKG2DL interactions to optimize an immunotherapeutic strategy against osteosarcoma. We evaluated in vitro and in vivo the safety and cytotoxic capacity against osteosarcoma cells of CD45RA− memory T cells expressing an NKG2D-4-1BB-CD3z chimeric antigen receptor (CAR).
Experimental Design: CD45RA− cells from healthy donors were transduced with NKG2D CARs containing 4-1BB and CD3z signaling domains. NKG2D CAR expression was analyzed by flow cytometry. In vitro cytotoxicity of NKG2D-CAR+ CD45RA− T cells against osteosarcoma was evaluated by performing conventional 4-hour europium-TDA release assays. For the in vivo orthotopic model, 531MII YFP-luc osteosarcoma cells were used as targets in NOD-scid IL2Rgnull mice.
Results: Lentiviral transduction of NKG2D-4-1BB-CD3z markedly increased NKG2D surface expression in CD45RA− cells. Genetic stability was preserved in transduced cells. In vitro, NKG2D-CAR+ memory T cells showed significantly increased cytolytic activity than untransduced cells against osteosarcoma cell lines, while preserving the integrity of healthy cells. NKG2D-CAR+ memory T cells had considerable antitumor activity in a mouse model of osteosarcoma, whereas untransduced T cells were ineffective.
Conclusions: Our results demonstrate NKG2D-4-1BB-CD3z CAR–redirected memory T cells target NKG2DL-expressing osteosarcoma cells in vivo and in vitro and could be a promising immunotherapeutic approach for patients with osteosarcoma. Clin Cancer Res; 23(19); 5824–35. ©2017 AACR.
A Massively Parallel Fluorescence Assay to Characterize the Effects of Synonymous Mutations on TP53 Expression
Authors: Bhagavatula Geetha , Rich Matthew S. , Young David L. , Marin Maximillian , Fields Stanley 
Published: June 2017

Abstract
Although synonymous mutations can affect gene expression, they have generally not been considered in genomic studies that focus on mutations that increase the risk of cancer. However, mounting evidence implicates some synonymous mutations as driver mutations in cancer. Here, a massively parallel assay, based on cell sorting of a reporter containing a segment of p53 fused to GFP, was used to measure the effects of nearly all synonymous mutations in exon 6 of TP53. In this reporter context, several mutations within the exon caused strong expression changes including mutations that may cause potential gain or loss of function. Further analysis indicates that these effects are largely attributed to errors in splicing, including exon skipping, intron inclusion, and exon truncation, resulting from mutations both at exon–intron junctions and within the body of the exon. These mutations are found at extremely low frequencies in healthy populations and are enriched a few-fold in cancer genomes, suggesting that some of them may be driver mutations in TP53. This assay provides a general framework to identify previously unknown detrimental synonymous mutations in cancer genes.
Implications: Using a massively parallel assay, this study demonstrates that synonymous mutations in the TP53 gene affect protein expression, largely through their impact on splicing.
Visual Overview: http://mcr.aacrjournals.org/content/molcanres/15/10/1301/F1.large.jpg. Mol Cancer Res; 15(10); 1301–7. ©2017 AACR.
La antropología cristiana en John Locke: justicia, crimen y los límites de la humanidad
Authors: Abdo Ferez María Cecilia 
Published: June 2017

El artículo rastrea, a partir de la célebre frase de Karl Marx en El XVIII. Brumario de Luis Bonaparte que reza "Locke desplazó a Habacuc", las transformaciones producidas en la noción de justicia en la temprana modernidad occidental, particularmente en la obra de John Locke. Sostendremos que Locke intentará combinar una antropología crisitiana, sumida en fuerte escepticismo, con la necesidad por parte del individuo de consentir y comprender toda obligación, incluso las derivadas de la ley divina, como forma típica de concebir la obligación política en el liberalismo moderno. Esta forma de combinación entre cristianismo, inteligibilidad y consentimiento individual a la obligación se contrasta fuertemente con las formas de justicia presentes en el Antiguo Testamento, particularmente en el Libro de Habacuc.
Una compraventa poética, Horacio, Epistola 2.2
Authors: Carrasco García Consuelo 
Published: June 2017

A poetic sale. Horace, Epistula 2.2. Starting from the analysis of a poem by Horace, I have tried to highlight the image of the Law that was held by Roman society in the first century BC, that is, both by the poet and by the public that he wanted to entertain with his works. He chose a legal topic as the theme of his narrative – the responsibility for hidden defects in the contract of sale –; he applied the Roman legal lexicon with total precision and, more specifically, he showed that he was aware of the debate about the case-law related to the Edict by which the magistrates regulated the sale of slaves in the public markets. This is apparent from a comparison of the poem with book 21, title 1 of Justinian’s Digest concerning the Edict of the curule aediles and with documents from legal practice (testatio) that record the agreement of the will of the parties. A study of this kind, moreover, also contributes to a better understanding of poetic composition.
Płeć kulturowa jako kategoria historyczna. Relacje między medyczną koncepcją ciała a pojęciem płci kulturowej
Authors: Buczkowski Adam 
Published: June 2017

Gender as the historical category: Relations between the medical conception of the body and the notion of genderThe article touches on the relation between gender and the medical conception of the body in the context of historical changes. The oldest European conception of gender was linked to ontic inequality, which corresponded to one-gender idea of the body in medicine. From the eighteenth century on, the medical conception of the body started to change, and the idea of two-gender body started spreading. The body of women started to be perceived as the different “other.” That change was accompanied by social and cultural shift and one of its consequences was the emergence of women’s group identity. The latest medical idea is personalized medicine, and the body is an element of the culture of individualization. Judging by the recent changes in the medical conception of the body, we are probably witnessing a change in the idea of gender – namely its dispersion. Płeć kulturowa jako kategoria historyczna. Relacje między medyczną koncepcją ciała a pojęciem płci kulturowejArtykuł dotyczy relacji pomiędzy pojęciem płci kulturowej a medyczną koncepcją ciała w kontekście zmian historycznych. Najstarsza w kulturze europejskiej koncepcja płci kulturowej wiązana była z nierównością ontyczną, co odpowiadało jednopłciowej koncepcji ciała w medycynie. Zmiana zaczęła następować od osiemnastego wieku, gdy w medycynie zaczęła się rozpowszechniać koncepcja ciała dwupłciowego, w którym kobiece ciało było traktowane jako inne. Tej zmianie towarzyszyły szerokie zmiany społeczne oraz w konsekwencji powstanie grupowej tożsamości kobiet. Najnowsze koncepcje medycyny personalizowanej wskazują na indywidualizację ciała. Towarzyszy temu zmiana kulturowa polegająca na coraz wyraźniejszym akcentowaniu indywidualności ciała. Przyjmując za punkty wyjścia zmiany pojmowania ciała w medycynie, prawdopodobnie jesteśmy świadkami zmiany pojęcia płci kulturowej – jej rozproszenia.
The Mean and Turbulent Properties of a Wildfire Convective Plume
Authors: Lareau Neil P. , Clements Craig B. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThe time-mean and time-varying smoke and velocity structure of a wildfire convective plume is examined using a high-resolution scanning Doppler lidar. The mean plume is shown to exhibit the archetypal form of a bent-over plume in a crosswind, matching the well-established Briggs plume-rise equation. The plume cross section is approximately Gaussian and the plume radius increases linearly with height, consistent with plume-rise theory. The Briggs plume-rise equation is subsequently inverted to estimate the mean fire-generated sensible heat flux, which is found to be 87 kW m−2. The mean radial velocity structure of the plume indicates flow convergence into the plume base and regions of both convective overshoot and sinking flow in the upper plume. The updraft speed in the lower plume is estimated to be 13.5 m s−1 by tracking the leading edge of a convective element ascending through the plume. The lidar data also reveal aspects of entrainment processes during the plume rise. For example, the covariation of the radial velocity and smoke perturbations are shown to dilute the smoke concentration with height.
Adaptive Range Oversampling Processing for Nontraditional Radar-Variable Estimators
Authors: Curtis Christopher D. , Torres Sebastián M. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractAdaptive range oversampling processing can be used either to reduce the variance of radar-variable estimates without increasing scan times or to reduce scan times without increasing the variance of estimates. For example, an implementation of adaptive pseudowhitening on the National Weather Radar Testbed Phased-Array Radar (NWRT PAR) led to a twofold reduction in scan times. Conversely, a proposed implementation of adaptive pseudowhitening the U.S. Next Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD) network would reduce the variance of dual-polarization estimates while keeping current scan times. However, the original version of adaptive pseudowhitening is not compatible with radar-variable estimators for which an explicit variance expression is not readily available. One such nontraditional estimator is the hybrid spectrum-width estimator, which is currently used in the NEXRAD network. In this paper, an extension of adaptive pseudowhitening is proposed that utilizes lookup tables (rather than analytical solutions based on explicit variance expressions) to obtain range oversampling transformations. After describing this lookup table (LUT) adaptive pseudowhitening technique, its performance is compared to that of the original version of adaptive pseudowhitening using traditional radar-variable estimators. LUT adaptive pseudowhitening is then applied to the hybrid spectrum-width estimator, and simulation results are confirmed with a qualitative analysis of radar data.