bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
On the use of spectral reflectance indices to assess agro‐morphological traits of wheat plants grown under simulated saline field conditions
Authors: El‐Hendawy S. E. , Hassan W. M. , Refay Y. , Schmidhalter U. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractSuccessful breeding of plants for salinity stress tolerance requires realistic growing conditions and fast, non‐destructive evaluation techniques for phenotypic traits associated with salinity tolerance. In this study, we used subsurface water retention technique (SWRT) as a growing condition and spectral measurements as an evaluation method to assess different agro‐morphological traits of salt‐tolerant (Sakha 93) and salt‐sensitive (Sakha 61) wheat genotypes under three salinity levels (control, 60, and 120 mm NaCl). The effects of salinity on agro‐morphological traits were evaluated and related with forty‐five published vegetation‐ and water‐spectral reflectance indices (SRIs) taken at both the heading and grain milk growth stages for each salinity level, genotype, and growth stage. In general, the agro‐morphological traits gradually decreased as salinity levels increased; however, the reduction in these traits was more pronounced in Sakha 61 than in Sakha 93. The effect of salinity levels and their interaction with genotypes on the SRIs was only evident at the grain milk stage. The performance of the spectral reflectance indices depicted that the closest associations with agro‐morphological traits depended on salinity level, degree of salt tolerance of the genotypes, and growth stage. The SRI‐based vegetative indices correlated better with growth and yield of Sakha 93 than SRI‐based water indices and vice versa for Sakha 61. The SRI‐based vegetative and water indices are effective for assessment of agro‐morphological traits at early growth stages under high salinity level. The functional relationship between grain yield per hectare and the best SRIs was linear for the high salinity level and Sakha 61; however, the quadratic model was found to best fit this relationship for the control, moderate salinity level, and Sakha 93. The overall results indicate that the usefulness of the SRIs for assessment of traits associated with salinity tolerance is limited to salinity level and growth stage.
Founder representation and effective population size in old versus young breeds—genetic diversity of Finnish and Nordic Spitz
Authors: Kumpulainen M. , Anderson H. , Svevar T. , Kangasvuo I. , Donner J. , Pohjoismäki J. 
Published: March 2017

SummaryFinnish Spitz is 130‐year‐old breed and has been highly popular in Finland throughout its history. Nordic Spitz is very similar to Finnish Spitz by origin and use, but is a relatively recent breed with much smaller population size. To see how breed age and breeding history have influenced the current population, we performed comprehensive population genetic analysis using pedigree data of 28,119 Finnish and 9,009 Nordic Spitzes combined with genomewide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data from 135 Finnish and 110 Nordic Spitzes. We found that the Finnish Spitz has undergone repeated male bottlenecks resulting in dramatic loss of genetic diversity, reflected by 20 effective founders (fa) and mean heterozygosity (Hz) of 0.313. The realized effective population size in the breed based on pedigree analysis () is 168, whereas the genetic effective population size (Neg) computed the decay of linkage disequilibrium (r2) is only 57 individuals. Nordic Spitz, although once been near extinction, has not been exposed to similar repeated bottlenecks than Finnish Spitz and had fa of 27 individuals. However, due to the smaller total population size, the breed has also smaller effective population size than Finnish Spitz ( = 98 and Neg = 49). Interestingly, the r2 data show that the effective population size has contracted dramatically since the establishment of the breed, emphasizing the role of breed standards as constrains for the breeding population. Despite the small population size, Nordic Spitz still maintains SNP heterozygosity levels similar to mixed breed dogs (mean Hz = 0.409). Our study demonstrates that although pedigree analyses cannot provide estimates of the present diversity within a breed, the effective population sizes inferred from them correlate with the genotyping results. The genetic relationships of the northern Spitz breeds and the benefits of the open breed registry are discussed.
Genome‐wide association study of cell‐mediated immune response in chicken
Authors: Raeesi V. , Ehsani A. , Torshizi R.V. , Sargolzaei M. , Masoudi A.A. , Dideban R. 
Published: March 2017

SummaryCell‐mediated immunity (CMI) causes the intracellular destruction of the antigen or elimination of the host cell to make animals resistant against exogenous antigens and cancers. In this study, a genome‐wide association study (GWAS) was carried out to identify genomic regions associated with CMI in chicken using chicken 60k high‐density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array. Genomic relationships were taken into account to adjust for population structure. In order to account for multiple testing, chromosome‐wise false discovery rate was controlled at 5% and 10% levels. Moreover, a comparison of the power of fixed and mixed linear models based on genomic inflation factor was carried out. Mixed linear model (MLM) had better inflation rate, and therefore the results from MLM were used for subsequent analysis. Three significantly associated SNPs (FDR < 0.05) on chromosome 24 and linkage group E22C19W28_E50C23, and three suggestively associated SNPs (FDR < 0.1) on chromosome 1, 5 and 16 were identified. Pathway analysis showed that two biological pathways, which are related to immune response, were strongly associated with the candidate genes surrounding identified SNPs, and their influences were mostly on antigen processing and presentation, and cellular structure.
Long‐term administration of pyridostigmine attenuates pressure overload‐induced cardiac hypertrophy by inhibiting calcineurin signalling
Authors: Lu Yi , Zhao Ming , Liu Jin‐Jun , He Xi , Yu Xiao‐Jiang , Liu Long‐Zhu , Sun Lei , Chen Li‐Na , Zang Wei‐Jin 
Published: March 2017

AbstractCardiac hypertrophy is associated with autonomic imbalance, characterized by enhanced sympathetic activity and withdrawal of parasympathetic control. Increased parasympathetic function improves ventricular performance. However, whether pyridostigmine, a reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, can offset cardiac hypertrophy induced by pressure overload remains unclear. Hence, this study aimed to determine whether pyridostigmine can ameliorate pressure overload‐induced cardiac hypertrophy and identify the underlying mechanisms. Rats were subjected to either sham or constriction of abdominal aorta surgery and treated with or without pyridostigmine for 8 weeks. Vagal activity and cardiac function were determined using PowerLab. Cardiac hypertrophy was evaluated using various histological stains. Protein markers for cardiac hypertrophy were quantitated by Western blot and immunoprecipitation. Pressure overload resulted in a marked reduction in vagal discharge and a profound increase in cardiac hypertrophy index and cardiac dysfunction. Pyridostigmine increased the acetylcholine levels by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase in rats with pressure overload. Pyridostigmine significantly attenuated cardiac hypertrophy based on reduction in left ventricular weight/body weight, suppression of the levels of atrial natriuretic peptide, brain natriuretic peptide and β‐myosin heavy chain, and a reduction in cardiac fibrosis. These effects were accompanied by marked improvement of cardiac function. Additionally, pyridostigmine inhibited the CaN/NFAT3/GATA4 pathway and suppressed Orai1/STIM1 complex formation. In conclusion, pressure overload resulted in cardiac hypertrophy, cardiac dysfunction and a significant reduction in vagal discharge. Pyridostigmine attenuated cardiac hypertrophy and improved cardiac function, which was related to improved cholinergic transmission efficiency (decreased acetylcholinesterase and increased acetylcholine), inhibition of the CaN/NFAT3/GATA4 pathway and suppression of the interaction of Orai1/STIM1.
Structural and functional connectivity in children and adolescents with and without attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Authors: Bos Dienke J. , Oranje Bob , Achterberg Michelle , Vlaskamp Chantal , Ambrosino Sara , de Reus Marcel A. , van den Heuvel Martijn P. , Rombouts Serge A.R.B. , Durston Sarah 
Published: March 2017

BackgroundAttention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has frequently been associated with changes in resting‐state functional connectivity, and decreased white matter (WM) integrity. In the current study, we investigated functional connectivity within Default Mode and frontal control resting‐state networks (RSNs) in children with and without ADHD. We hypothesized the RSNs of interest would show a pattern of impaired functional integration and segregation and corresponding changes in WM structure.MethodsResting‐state fMRI and diffusion‐weighted imaging data were acquired from 35 participants with ADHD and 36 matched typically developing peers, aged 6 through 18 years. Functional connectivity was assessed using independent component analysis. Network topology and WM connectivity were further investigated using graph theoretical measures and tract‐based spatial statistics (TBSS).ResultsResting‐state fMRI analyses showed increased functional connectivity in right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), and bilateral medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) within the Default Mode and frontal control networks. Furthermore, a more diffuse spatial pattern of functional connectivity was found in children with ADHD. We found no group differences in structural connectivity as assessed with TBSS or graph theoretical measures.ConclusionsResting‐state networks show a more diffuse pattern of connectivity in children with ADHD. The increases in functional connectivity in right IFG and bilateral mPFC in children with ADHD may reflect reduced or delayed functional segregation of prefrontal brain regions. As these functional changes were not accompanied by changes in WM, they may precede the development of the frequently reported changes in WM structure.
Prevention of renal failure in Chinese patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes: A cost‐effectiveness analysis
Authors: Wu Bin , Zhang Suhua , Lin Houwen , Mou Shan 
Published: March 2017

AbstractAims/IntroductionDiabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the second leading cause (16.4%) of end‐stage renal disease in China. The current study assessed the cost‐effectiveness of preventingDKDin patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes from the Chinese healthcare perspective.Materials and MethodsA lifetime Markov decision model was developed according to the disease course ofDKD. Patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes might receive treatment according to one of the following three strategies: (i) “do nothing” strategy (control strategy); (ii) treatment with angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensinIIreceptor blockers (universal strategy); (iii) or screening for microalbuminuria followed by angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensinIIreceptor blocker treatment (screening strategy). Clinical and utility data were obtained from the published literature. Direct medical costs and resource utilization in the Chinese healthcare setting were considered. Sensitivity analyses were undertaken to test the impact of a range of variables and assumptions on the results.ResultsCompared with the control strategy, both the screening and universal strategies were cost‐saving options that showed lower costs and better health benefits. The incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio of the universal strategy over the screening strategy wasUS$30,087 per quality‐adjusted life‐year, which was higher than the cost‐effectiveness threshold of China. The sensitivity analyses showed robust results, except for the probability of developing macroalbuminuria from microalbuminuria.ConclusionsScreening for microalbuminuria could be a cost‐saving option for the prevention ofDKDin the Chinese setting.
Addiction: an underestimated problem in psoriasis health care
Authors: Zink A. , Herrmann M. , Fischer T. , Lauffer F. , Garzorz‐Stark N. , Böhner A. , Spinner C.D. , Biedermann T. , Eyerich K. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractBackgroundPsoriasis is a disease of enormous socio‐economic impact. Despite approval of numerous highly efficient and costly therapies, a minor proportion of severely affected patients actually receives sufficient treatment.ObjectiveTo investigate whether addictions are associated with psoriasis and to develop evidence‐based recommendations for dermatologists in their daily clinical practice in order to improve medical assessment of psoriasis and patients’ quality of life.Patients and MethodsPsoriasis patients at the University Department of Dermatology were asked to fill out a paper‐based self‐reported anonymous questionnaire with 92 questions of validated screening tests for the six most common addictions in Germany (alcohol, nicotine, drugs and illegal drugs, gambling, food). Body weight and height as well as current Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) were documented as well.ResultsBetween October 2015 and February 2016, 102 patients (65 males, 37 females; mean age 49.7 years (SD 13.4), range 18–83 years) participated in the study. Fifty‐seven of the 102 patients showed addictive behaviour. Of these, 23.8% were high‐risk drinkers, 41% regular smokers, 11% at risk of drug abuse, 4.1% at risk of food dependency and 19% compulsive gamblers. Compared with the general population, these results are significantly higher for alcohol abuse (P < 0.005), nicotine (P < 0.001) and gambling (P < 0.001). Body mass index was significantly higher in the study population (P < 0.001).ConclusionAddictions and gambling are more prevalent in patients with psoriasis compared with the general population. Respective screening measures are recommended in daily practice for doctors treating psoriasis patients, and PeakPASI is suggested as a score to document patients’ lifetime highest PASI. Parallel to new drug approvals and even more detailed insights into the pathomechanism of psoriasis, public health strategies and interdisciplinary approaches are essential for a general sustained psoriasis treatment.
From fixed to state‐dependent duration in public‐private partnerships
Authors: Danau Daniel , Vinella Annalisa 
Published: March 2017

AbstractA government delegates a build‐operate‐transfer project to a private firm. In the contracting stage, the operating cost is unknown. The firm can increase the likelihood of facing a low cost, rather than a high cost, by exerting costly effort when building the infrastructure. Once the infrastructure is in place, the firm learns the true cost and begins to operate. Under limited commitment, either partner may renege on the contract at any moment thereafter. The novelty with respect to incentive theory is that the contractual length is stipulated in the contract in such a way that it depends on the cost realization. Our main result is that, if the break‐up of the partnership is sufficiently costly to the government and/or adverse selection and moral hazard are sufficiently severe, then the efficient contract is not robust to renegotiation unless it has a longer duration when the realized cost is low. This result is at odds with the literature on flexible‐term contracts, which recommends a longer duration when operating conditions are unfavorable, yet, with regard to a different setting, where the demand is uncertain and the cash‐flow is exogenous.
How people who self‐harm negotiate the inpatient environment: the mental healthcare workers perspective
Authors: Thomas J. B. , Haslam C. O. 
Published: March 2017

Accessible summaryWhat is known about the subject?

Self‐harm plays a function, commonly in the form of distress management.

There has been little focussed exploration of how individuals who use self‐harm to manage distress cope when prevented from self‐harm in an inpatient environment and how staff respond to this issue.

What this paper adds to existing knowledge

This paper uses the experiences of mental health staff to add to the existing knowledge that self‐harm has a functional role and supports the notion that interventions for self‐harm should focus on the origins of distress.

It describes the potential consequences that focussing on prevention of self‐harm as opposed to actually managing distress may have on service‐users, how staff attempt to manage these consequences and factors that may impact on staff interventions to prevent further distress/harm.

What are the implications for practice?

The findings suggest that mental healthcare staff should aim to understand the function of self‐harm, use this understanding to develop an individualized care plan with the aim of managing distress and identify barriers to the effectiveness of the interventions so they can be worked around.

AbstractIntroductionLiterature describes self‐harm as functional and meaningful. This creates difficulties for service‐users detained in an inpatient environment where self‐harm is prevented.AimMental healthcare staff were interviewed to build on existing evidence of issues with the prevention approach and explore, from a staff perspective, how self‐harm prevention impacts on service‐users, how they manage distress and how this impacts on staff and their approach to care.MethodsQualitative methods were used to allow unexpected themes to arise. Ten semi‐structured interviews were carried out with mental healthcare staff and thematically analysed.Findings and discussionThe findings provide new evidence on the benefits and limitations of the inpatient environment for individuals who self‐harm. Findings indicate that being unable to self‐harm can lead to a continuation of distress and subsequent potentially harmful attempts to manage distress. Staff described experiencing a struggle for control in preventing self‐harm, leading to increasingly harmful methods of self‐harm. Alternatively some staff were able to support service‐users with distress management. We discuss factors influencing which of these ‘paths’ service‐users followed.ImplicationsConsiderations for care planning including understanding self‐harm, using individualized care planning and attending to barriers are outlined with the ultimate aim of reducing distress and the impact of prevention of self‐harm.
Coesite in suevite from the Ries impact structure (Germany): From formation to postshock evolution
Authors: Fazio Agnese , Mansfeld Ulrich , Langenhorst Falko 
Published: March 2017

AbstractCoesite is one of the most common and abundant high‐pressure phases occurring in impactites. The mechanism of formation of coesite and its postshock evolution is revisited in this paper based on Raman microspectroscopy, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy of a coesite‐bearing suevite from the Ries impact structure. Our data indicate that coesite forms through a single process, i.e., by crystallization from high‐pressure silica melt, and that its formation is related to fluid inclusions in precursor quartz. During the postshock phase, coesite aggregates are partially modified by annealing and interactions with fluids. In an early stage of the postshock evolution, coesite is back‐transformed to quartz and the surrounding diaplectic glass devitrifies into β‐cristobalite, which transforms into α‐cristobalite and then into microcrystalline quartz during subsequent stages of the postshock evolution. Altogether these postshock modifications result in a significant volume loss and extensional fracturing. During a late postshock stage, the fractures are filled with clay minerals due to circulation of hydrothermal fluids.
Embedded Narratives: Metabolic Disorders and Pentecostal Conversion in Samoa
Authors: Hardin Jessica 
Published: March 2017

AbstractDrawing from interviews and participant observation, this article explores the intersection of diagnosis of metabolic disorders and religious conversion among Pentecostal Christians in Samoa by analyzing what I call embedded narratives––conversion narratives embedded in illness narratives. Drawing from ethnographic data, I examine how using conversion narrative conventions enabled those living with metabolic disorders to narrate behavior change in a culturally and socially valorized way. By embedding their narratives, I suggest those living with metabolic disorders shifted the object of care from a disease process toward the creation of a religious life and in turn transformed the risks associated with metabolic disorders, including diet, exercise, and pharmaceutical use into moral risks associated with everyday religious life. In these cases, Pentecostal conversion created possible scripts for changing health practices, managing stress, and shifting resource use in the name of religious commitment, providing insights into how self‐care can be an expression of religious practice.
Bayesian species identification under the multispecies coalescent provides significant improvements to DNA barcoding analyses
Authors: Yang Ziheng , Rannala Bruce 
Published: March 2017

AbstractDNA barcoding methods use a single locus (usually the mitochondrial COI gene) to assign unidentified specimens to known species in a library based on a genetic distance threshold that distinguishes between‐species divergence from within‐species diversity. Recently developed species delimitation methods based on the multispecies coalescent (MSC) model offer an alternative approach to individual assignment using either single‐locus or multiloci sequence data. Here, we use simulations to demonstrate three features of an MSC method implemented in the program bpp. First, we show that with one locus, MSC can accurately assign individuals to species without the need for arbitrarily determined distance thresholds (as required for barcoding methods). We provide an example in which no single threshold or barcoding gap exists that can be used to assign all specimens without incurring high error rates. Second, we show that bpp can identify cryptic species that may be misidentified as a single species within the library, potentially improving the accuracy of barcoding libraries. Third, we show that taxon rarity does not present any particular problems for species assignments using bpp and that accurate assignments can be achieved even when only one or a few loci are available. Thus, concerns that have been raised that MSC methods may have problems analysing rare taxa (singletons) are unfounded. Currently, barcoding methods enjoy a huge computational advantage over MSC methods and may be the only approach feasible for massively large data sets, but MSC methods may offer a more stringent test for species that are tentatively assigned by barcoding.