bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Systematic evaluation of circulating inflammatory markers for hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Chan Stephen L. , Chan Anthony W.H. , Chan Allen K.C. , Jian Peiyong , Mo Frankie , Chan Charles M.L. , Mok Kevin , Liu Calvin , Chong Charing C.N. , Chan Anthony T.C. , Mok Tony , Yeo Winnie 
Published: August 2016

AbstractBackgrounds & AimsA number of circulating inflammatory factors are implicated in the pathogenesis and prognostication of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aim to evaluate the prognostication of multiple serum inflammatory factors simultaneously and develop an objective inflammatory score for HCC.MethodsA prospective cohort of 555 patients with HCC with paired serum samples was accrued from 2009 to 2012. The blood levels of conventional inflammatory markers, namely C‐reactive protein (CRP), albumin, neutrophils, lymphocytes and platelet, were determined, and 41 other exploratory markers were measured by a multiplex assay. The prognostication and interaction of markers were determined by univariate and multivarite analyses.ResultsThe cohort was randomly divided into training cohort (n=139) and validation cohort (n=416). There were no differences in baseline characteristics between the two cohorts. In the training cohort, independent prognostic factors for overall survival included CRP (hazard ratio [HR] 1.107; P=.003), albumin (HR 0.953; P=.032) and interleukin‐8 (HR=5.816; P<.001). We have modified the existing inflammation‐based index (IBI) by adding serum interleukin‐8 level. The modified IBI could stratify patients into four groups with distinct overall survival (P<.001). The results were also validated in the validation cohort. When compared with IBI and other conventional inflammatory markers, the modified IBI had better prognostic performance with higher c‐index and homogeneity likelihood ratio chi‐square.ConclusionsAmong the conventional and exploratory circulating inflammatory markers, higher CRP, lower albumin and higher interleukin‐8 were independent prognosticators. By combining these factors, a simple and accurate inflammatory index could be constructed.
TbLOK1/ATOM19 is a novel subunit of the noncanonical mitochondrial outer membrane protein translocase of Trypanosoma brucei
Authors: Desy Silvia , Mani Jan , Harsman Anke , Käser Sandro , Schneider André 
Published: August 2016

SummaryTbLOK1 has previously been characterized as a trypanosomatid‐specific mitochondrial outer membrane protein whose ablation caused a collapse of the mitochondrial network, disruption of the membrane potential and loss of mitochondrial DNA. Here we show that ablation of TbLOK1 primarily abolishes mitochondrial protein import, both in vivo and in vitro. Co‐immunprecipitations together with blue native gel analysis demonstrate that TbLOK1 is a stable and stoichiometric component of the archaic protein translocase of the outer membrane (ATOM), the highly diverged functional analogue of the TOM complex in other organisms. Furthermore, we show that TbLOK1 together with the other ATOM subunits forms a complex functional network where ablation of individual subunits either causes degradation of a specific set of other subunits or their exclusion from the ATOM complex. In summary these results establish that TbLOK1 is an essential novel subunit of the ATOM complex and thus that its primary molecular function is linked to mitochondrial protein import across the outer membrane. The previously described phenotypes can all be explained as consequences of the lack of mitochondrial protein import. We therefore suggest that in line with the nomenclature of the ATOM complex subunits, TbLOK1 should be renamed to ATOM19.
Strong phylogeographic co‐structure between the anther‐smut fungus and its white campion host
Authors: Feurtey Alice , Gladieux Pierre , Hood Michael E. , Snirc Alodie , Cornille Amandine , Rosenthal Lisa , Giraud Tatiana 
Published: August 2016

Summary

Although congruence between host and pathogen phylogenies has been extensively investigated, the congruence between host and pathogen genetic structures at the within‐species level has received little attention.

Using an unprecedented and comprehensive collection of associated plant–pathogen samples, we investigated the degree of congruence between the genetic structures across Europe of two evolutionary and ecological model organisms, the anther‐smut pathogen Microbotryum lychnidis‐dioicae and its host plant Silene latifolia.

We demonstrated a significant and particularly strong level of host–pathogen co‐structure, with three main genetic clusters displaying highly similar spatial ranges in Western Europe, Eastern Europe and Italy, respectively. Correcting for the geographical component of genetic variation, significant correlations were still found between the genetic distances of anther‐smut and host populations. Inoculation experiments suggested plant local adaptation, at the cluster level, for resistance to pathogens.

These findings indicate that the pathogen remained isolated in the same fragmented southern refugia as its host plant during the last glaciation, and that little long‐distance dispersal has occurred since the recolonization of Europe for either the plant or the pathogen, despite their known ability to travel across continents. This, together with the inoculation results, suggests that coevolutionary and competitive processes may be drivers of host–pathogen co‐structure.
The Eucalyptus linker histone variant EgH1.3 cooperates with the transcription factor EgMYB1 to control lignin biosynthesis during wood formation
Authors: Soler Marçal , Plasencia Anna , Larbat Romain , Pouzet Cécile , Jauneau Alain , Rivas Susana , Pesquet Edouard , Lapierre Catherine , Truchet Isabelle , Grima‐Pettenati Jacqueline 
Published: August 2016

Summary

Wood, also called secondary xylem, is a specialized vascular tissue constituted by different cell types that undergo a differentiation process involving deposition of thick, lignified secondary cell walls. The mechanisms needed to control the extent of lignin deposition depending on the cell type and the differentiation stage are far from being fully understood.

We found that the Eucalyptus transcription factor EgMYB1, which is known to repress lignin biosynthesis, interacts specifically with a linker histone variant, EgH1.3. This interaction enhances the repression of EgMYB1's target genes, strongly limiting the amount of lignin deposited in xylem cell walls.

The expression profiles of EgMYB1 and EgH1.3 overlap in xylem cells at early stages of their differentiation as well as in mature parenchymatous xylem cells, which have no or only thin lignified secondary cell walls. This suggests that a complex between EgMYB1 and EgH1.3 integrates developmental signals to prevent premature or inappropriate lignification of secondary cell walls, providing a mechanism to fine‐tune the differentiation of xylem cells in time and space.

We also demonstrate a role for a linker histone variant in the regulation of a specific developmental process through interaction with a transcription factor, illustrating that plant linker histones have other functions beyond chromatin organization.
Republic of China's Decision‐Making Process in Regards to Drawing a U‐shaped Line on the Map of the South China Sea and Its Implications
Authors: Chen Hurng‐Yu 
Published: August 2016

AbstractWhen the government of the Republic of China drew a U‐shaped line around the islands on a map of the South China Sea in 1947, the decision‐makers were only referring to the islands within this line. Because the Republic of China held just 3 nautical miles of territorial waters, they could not possibly be thinking of including the sea areas within this U‐shaped line. However, with the development of the international Law of the Sea, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, heated discussions arose around the legal status of this U‐shaped line. It had been regarded as the islands’ attribution line, a historic waters line, a historical rights line, and a state boundary line. This article uses official archives to trace the original thinking of these decision‐makers and to infer the meaning of this U‐shaped line.
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis‐associated acute subglottic stenosis in a 13‐year‐old boy: a case report
Authors: Geng‐Ramos Giuliana , Nami Nina , Mener David J. 
Published: August 2016

SummaryWe present a case of a child with granulomatosis with polyangiitis, admitted with acute respiratory distress attributed to subglottic stenosis. The anesthetic management and potential complications are described.
Atomoxetine ameliorates nocturnal enuresis with subclinical attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Authors: Ohtomo Yoshiyuki 
Published: August 2016

AbstractBackgroundRecent studies have shown that incontinence and attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) coexist and there is an interaction between them. The treatment for nocturnal enuresis (NE) and ADHD, however, has not been established.MethodsAt the first visit to the outpatient clinic, physical examination and history taking were carried out in 265 new patients with NE. After excluding the possibility of comorbid ADHD and related disorders, patients with monosymptomatic NE (MNE) were treated with desmopressin and/or alarm, and those with non‐monosymptomatic NE (NMNE) were treated with anti‐cholinergics and/or alarm. This 12 week treatment did not work in 65 patients, and they were re‐assessed for comorbid ADHD. A total of 24 were diagnosed with ADHD, and they were treated with atomoxetine (1.8 mg/kg/day) in addition to ongoing therapy for NE.ResultsAfter 8 weeks of atomoxetine, the average wet nights per months was significantly decreased: 18.5–4.6 in the MNE group (P = 0.001), and 22.1–12.4 in the NMNE group (P = 0.0251). Overall, atomoxetine was beneficial in 19 of 24 patients.ConclusionsAtomoxetine may be a suitable option for refractory NE with comorbid ADHD.
Objective Detection of Oral Carcinoma with Multispectral Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging In Vivo
Authors: Malik Bilal H. , Lee Joohyung , Cheng Shuna , Cuenca Rodrigo , Jabbour Joey M. , Cheng Yi‐Shing Lisa , Wright John M. , Ahmed Beena , Maitland Kristen C. , Jo Javier A. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractSuccessful early detection and demarcation of oral carcinoma can greatly impact the associated morbidity and mortality rates. Current methods for detection of oral cancer include comprehensive visual examination of the oral cavity, typically followed by tissue biopsy. A noninvasive means to guide the clinician in making a more objective and informed decision toward tissue biopsy can potentially improve the diagnostic yield of this process. To this end, we investigate the potential of fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) for objective detection of oral carcinoma in the hamster cheek pouch model of oral carcinogenesis in vivo. We report that systematically selected FLIM features can differentiate between low‐risk (normal, benign and low‐grade dysplasia) and high‐risk (high‐grade dysplasia and cancer) oral lesions with sensitivity and specificity of 87.26% and 93.96%, respectively. We also show the ability of FLIM to generate “disease” maps of the tissue which can be used to evaluate relative risk of neoplasia. The results demonstrate the potential of multispectral FLIM with objective image analysis as a noninvasive tool to guide comprehensive oral examination.
Organ boundary NAC‐domain transcription factors are implicated in the evolution of petal fusion
Authors: Zhong J. , Powell S. , Preston J. C. 
Published: August 2016

Abstract

Research rationale: Evolution of fused petals (sympetaly) is considered to be an important innovation that has repeatedly led to increased pollination efficiency, resulting in accelerated rates of plant diversification. Although little is known about the underlying regulation of sympetaly, genetic pathways ancestrally involved in organ boundary establishment (e.g. CUP SHAPED COTYLEDON [CUC] 1–3 genes) are strong candidates. In sympetalous petunia, mutations in the CUC1/2‐like orthologue NO APICAL MERISTEM (NAM) inhibit shoot apical meristem formation. Despite this, occasional ‘escape shoots’ develop flowers with extra petals and fused inter‐floral whorl organs.

Central methods: To To determine if petunia CUC‐like genes regulate additional floral patterning, we used virus‐induced silencing (VIGS) following establishment of healthy shoot apices to re‐examine the role of NAM in petunia petal development, and uniquely characterise the CUC3 orthologue NH16.

Key results: Confirming previous results, we found that reduced floral NAM/NH16 expression caused increased petal–stamen and stamen–carpel fusion, and often produced extra petals. However, further to previous results, all VIGS plants infected with NAM or NH16 constructs exhibited reduced fusion in the petal whorl compared to control plants.

Main conclusions: Together with previous data, our results demonstrate conservation of petunia CUC‐like genes in establishing inter‐floral whorl organ boundaries, as well as functional evolution to affect the fusion of petunia petals.
University Rankings: Evidence and a Conceptual Framework
Authors: Fowles Jacob , Frederickson H. George , Koppell Jonathan G. S. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractUniversity ranking has high public visibility, the ranking business has flourished, and institutions of higher education have not been able to ignore it. This study of university ranking presents general considerations of ranking and institutional responses to it, particularly considering reactions to ranking, ranking as a self‐fulfilling prophecy, and ranking as a means of transforming qualities into quantities. The authors present a conceptual framework of university ranking based on three propositions and carry out a descriptive statistical analysis of U.S. and international ranking data to evaluate those propositions. The first proposition of university ranking is that ranking systems are demarcated by a high degree of stability, equilibrium, and path dependence. The second proposition links ranking to institutional identity. The third proposition posits that rankings function as a catalyst for institutional isomorphism. The conclusion reviews some important new developments in university ranking.
A Latent Promotion Time Cure Rate Model using Dependent Tail-Free Mixtures
Authors: Li Li , Lee Ji-Hyun 
Published: August 2016

SummaryThe paper extends the latent promotion time cure rate marker model of Kim, Xi and Chen for right-censored survival data. Instead of modelling the cure rate parameter as a deterministic function of risk factors, they assumed that the cure rate parameter of a targeted population is distributed over a number of ordinal levels according to the probabilities governed by the risk factors. We propose to use a mixture of linear dependent tail-free processes as the prior for the distribution of the cure rate parameter, resulting in a latent promotion time cure rate model. This approach provides an immediate answer to perhaps one of the most pressing questions ‘what is the probability that a targeted population has high proportions (e.g. greater than 70%) of being cured?’. The approach proposed can accommodate a rich class of distributions for the cure rate parameter, while centred at gamma densities. The algorithms that are developed in this work allow the fitting of latent promotion time cure rate models with several survival models for metastatic tumour cells.
Citizens' support for Economic Reforms in Sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Congdon Fors Heather 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThe objective of this paper is to investigate the factors that influence citizens' support for costly economic reforms in sub‐Saharan Africa. This is relevant for several reasons, but the most obvious perhaps is that economic reform will be difficult if faced by strong resistance from citizens. In this paper, individual data from Round 4 of the Afrobarometer surveys is used to investigate how support for economic reforms is influenced by factors falling under the following broad categories: (i) Economic variables; (ii) group identity and fairness variables; (iii) Institutional and state/government variables; (iv) Demographic and control variables. An individual's trust in the president and the belief that the government manages the economy well are two of the most significant and robust factors. This is in keeping with the results found in Williamson (The Political Economy of Policy Reform, Institute for International Economics, Washington, DC, ). Another robustly significant variable is satisfaction with how democracy works in the country. Variables related to ethnic identity and community membership also play a significant role in support for costly economic reforms, which is in line with the theories put forward by van de Walle (African Economies and the Politics of Permanent Crisis, 1979–1999. Cambridge University Press, New York, ). Females are less likely to support economic reforms, while individuals with higher levels of education are more likely to support economic reforms.
Technology‐assisted self‐testing and management of oral anticoagulation therapy: a qualitative patient‐focused study
Authors: Kuljis Jasna , Money Arthur G. , Perry Mark , Barnett Julie , Young Terry 
Published: August 2016

BackgroundOral anticoagulation therapy requires regular blood testing to ensure therapeutic levels are maintained and excessive bleeding/clotting is avoided. Technology‐assisted self‐testing and management is seen as one of the key areas in which quality of care can be improved whilst reducing costs. Nevertheless, levels of patient engagement in self‐testing and management remain low. To date, little research emphasis has been placed on understanding the patients' perspectives for low engagement. The typical approach adopted by healthcare providers is to provide patient education programmes, with the expectation that individual patients will change their behaviour and adopt new self‐care strategies. However, if levels of patient engagement are to be increased, healthcare providers must also develop a better understanding of how their clinical service provision is perceived by patients and make adaptations.ObjectiveTo explore patient views, needs and expectations of an anticoagulation service and the self‐testing and management services provided.MethodsInterviews were conducted with 17 patients who currently engage in international normalised ratio (INR) self‐testing and management. Thematic coding and analysis were carried out on the interview transcripts.ResultsFour high‐level themes emerged from interviews: (i) role of clinic, (ii) motivations for self‐testing, (iii) managing INR and (iv) trust. The clinic was seen as adding value in terms of specifying testing frequency, dosage profiles and calibrating equipment. Prompt communication from clinic to patient was also valued, although more personalised/real‐time communication would help avoid feelings of isolation. Patients felt more in control as self‐tester/managers and often took decisions about treatment adjustments themselves. However, some also manipulated their own test results to avoid ‘unnecessary’ interventions.Conclusions and recommendationsMore personalised/real‐time communication, pragmatic and collaborative patient–clinician partnerships and recognition of expert patient knowledge and expertise are needed if increased levels of engagement with self‐testing and management service provision is to be realised.
Right Node Raising and Nongrammaticality
Authors: Larson Brooke 
Published: August 2016

AbstractRight node raising sentences (RNR) have proved to be difficult for modern syntactic theory to account in an explanatory fashion. In this paper I argue that the reason for this difficulty is thatRNRcannot be fully analyzed as a construction independent of online parsing. I argue against current and possible grammatical analyses of the construction and posit that the interpretation of the shared material in the first conjunct is effectively illusory. That is, the interpretive relation between the shared material inRNRand the gap position in the first conjunct is not encoded in the offline representation of the construction, but rather is only captured via a transitory online parsing operation. This analysis has consequences for the relation between the grammar and the parser as well the limits of grammatical relations.
Discovery of a novel HLA‐DRB1*09 variant, HLA‐DRB1*09:28, in a Taiwanese individual
Authors: Yang K. L. , Hung J. H. , Lin P. Y. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractOne nucleotide substitution at residue 332 of HLA‐DRB1*09:01:02 results in a novel allele, HLA‐DRB1*09:28
Post‐prophylaxis Toxoplasma chorioretinitis following donor–recipient mismatched liver transplantation
Authors: Webb G.J. , Shah H. , David M.D. , Tiew S. , Beare N. , Hirschfield G.M. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractToxoplasmosis may be transferred by organ transplantation. The most common clinical presentation is with multisystem disease, although isolated ocular toxoplasmosis has been described. Many centers have suggested that universal use of co‐trimoxazole prophylaxis obviates the need for specific Toxoplasma testing. We report a case of donor‐acquired ocular toxoplasmosis after liver transplantation despite co‐trimoxazole prophylaxis. The diagnosis was confirmed by Toxoplasma polymerase chain reaction assay in conjunction with seroconversion. The fact that the infection was donor acquired was confirmed by serological mismatch and the absence of sporozoite‐specific antigen antibody in the recipient.
Effect of auriculopalpebral nerve block on Schirmer tear test I values in normal horses
Authors: Visser Hannah E. , Diehl Kathryn A. , Whitley R. David , Myrna Kathern E. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractObjectiveTo compare Schirmer tear test I (STTI) values collected in normal horses with and without an auriculopalpebral nerve block.ProcedureSchirmer tear test I values were measured in 20 clinically normal horses (38 eyes) with a median age of 12 years. The order of eyes tested was randomized. Within 24–48 h, at the same time of day, tear measurements were collected again after administration of an auriculopalpebral nerve block. Each block was performed a minimum of 5 min prior to each STT I. A repeated‐measures model was used to analyze differences between STT I values in eyes with and without nerve blocks incorporating within horse correlation between eyes. The mixed‐model included fixed factors of treatment and eye and a random intercept for each horse. An unstructured covariance structure was used.ResultsOn average, STT I values measured in eyes after auriculopalpebral nerve blocks were 0.55 mm/min greater than those without nerve blocks. This difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.5268).ConclusionsThere was no effect of auriculopalpebral nerve block on STT I values in normal horses.