bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Heterobasidion Partitivirus 13 Mediates Severe Growth Debilitation and Major Alterations in the Gene Expression of a Fungal Forest Pathogen
Authors: Vainio Eeva J. , Jurvansuu Jaana , Hyder Rafiqul , Kashif Muhammad , Piri Tuula , Tuomivirta Tero , Poimala Anna , Xu Ping , Mäkelä Salla , Nitisa Dina , Hantula Jarkko 
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACT

The fungal genus
Heterobasidion
includes some of the most devastating conifer pathogens in the boreal forest region. In this study, we showed that the alphapartitivirus Heterobasidion partitivirus 13 from
Heterobasidion annosum
(HetPV13-an1) is the main causal agent of severe phenotypic debilitation in the host fungus. Based on RNA sequencing using isogenic virus-infected and cured fungal strains, HetPV13-an1 affected the transcription of 683 genes, of which 60% were downregulated and 40% upregulated. Alterations observed in carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism suggest that the virus causes a state of starvation, which is compensated for by alternative synthesis routes. We used dual cultures to transmit HetPV13-an1 into new strains of
H. annosum
and
Heterobasidion parviporum
. The three strains of
H. parviporum
that acquired the virus showed noticeable growth reduction on rich culturing medium, while only two of six
H. annosum
isolates tested showed significant debilitation. Based on reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis, the response toward HetPV13-an1 infection was somewhat different in
H. annosum
and
H. parviporum
. We assessed the effects of HetPV13-an1 on the wood colonization efficacy of
H. parviporum
in a field experiment where 46 Norway spruce trees were inoculated with isogenic strains with or without the virus. The virus-infected
H. parviporum
strain showed considerably less growth within living trees than the isolate without HetPV13-an1, indicating that the virus also causes growth debilitation in natural substrates.

IMPORTANCE
A biocontrol method restricting the spread of
Heterobasidion
species would be highly beneficial to forestry, as these fungi are difficult to eradicate from diseased forest stands and cause approximate annual losses of €800 million in Europe. We used virus curing and reintroduction experiments and RNA sequencing to show that the alphapartitivirus HetPV13-an1 affects many basic cellular functions of the white rot wood decay fungus
Heterobasidion annosum
, which results in aberrant hyphal morphology and a low growth rate. Dual fungal cultures were used to introduce HetPV13-an1 into a new host species,
Heterobasidion parviporum
, and field experiments confirmed the capability of the virus to reduce the growth of
H. parviporum
in living spruce wood. Taken together, our results suggest that HetPV13-an1 shows potential for the development of a future biocontrol agent against
Heterobasidion
fungi.
EvaLuation Using Cardiac Insertable Devices And TelephonE in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (ELUCIDATE HCM)—rationale and design: a prospective observational study on incidence of arrhythmias in Sweden
Authors: Magnusson Peter , Mörner Stellan 
Published: December 2017

IntroductionHypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a heterogeneous disease associated with sudden cardiac death (SCD) mainly due to ventricular tachycardia (VT) or fibrillation even though life-threatening bradycardia occurs. Risk stratification takes several variables into consideration including non-sustained VT (NSVT). An implantable cardioverter defibrillator effectively prevents SCD.Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common among patients with HCM and warrants anticoagulation even without conventional risk factors according to European guidelines. Routinely, the evaluation of arrhythmias using a 48-hour ambulatory external monitor takes place every 6–24 months if patients do not report palpitations. The remaining time the potential burden arrhythmia is unknown. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to assess NSVT and AF incidence during 18 months by an insertable cardiac monitor (ICM).MethodsAdult patients, aged 18–65 years, with a validated diagnosis of HCM are eligible for the study. The study sample is planned to include 30 patients. A Confirm Rx is implanted at the level of the fourth rib on the left side subcutaneously after local anaesthesia. The application for monitoring is installed in the patients’ smartphone and symptoms registered by the patient activation and VT detection programmed as 160 bpm during ≥8 intervals. An AF episode is recorded based on ≥2 min duration. Bradycardia is recorded at ≤40 bpm or pause ≥3.0 s. The patients are followed during 18 months before explant.Ethics and disseminationThe study was approved by The Regional Ethical Committee in Umeå (protocol number 2017/13–31). The study protocol, including variables and prespecified research questions, the study was registered at Clinical Trial RegistrationNCT03259113. Each patient is informed about the study in both oral and written form by a physician and included after written consent.
Separate, Measure and Conquer
Authors: Gaspers Serge , Sorkin Gregory B. 
Published: December 2017

We show a method resulting in the improvement of several polynomial-space, exponential-time algorithms. The method capitalizes on the existence of small balanced separators for sparse graphs, which can be exploited for branching to disconnect an instance into independent components. For this algorithm design paradigm, the challenge to date has been to obtain improvements in worst-case analyses of algorithms, compared with algorithms that are analyzed with advanced methods, notably Measure and Conquer. Our contribution is the design of a general method to integrate the advantage from the separator-branching into Measure and Conquer, for a more precise and improved running time analysis.

We illustrate the method with improved algorithms for M
ax
(
r
,2)-C
sp
and #D
ominating
S
et
. An instance of the problem M
ax
(
r
,2)-C
SP
, or simply M
ax
2-CSP, is parameterized by the domain size
r
(often 2), the number of variables
n
(vertices in the constraint graph
G
), and the number of constraints
m
(edges in
G
). When
G
is cubic, and omitting sub-exponential terms here for clarity, we give an algorithm running in time
r

(1/5)
n

=
r

(2/15)
m

the previous best was
r

(1/4)
n

=
r

(1/6)
m

. By known results, this improvement for the cubic case results in an algorithm running in time
r

(9/50)
m

for general instances; the previous best was
r

(19/100)
m

. We show that the analysis of the earlier algorithm was tight: our improvement is in the algorithm, not just the analysis. The same running time improvements hold for M
ax
C
ut
, an important special case of M
ax
2-CSP, and for Polynomial and Ring CSP, generalizations encompassing graph bisection, the Ising model, and counting.

We also give faster algorithms for #D
ominating
S
et
, counting the dominating sets of every cardinality 0, … ,
n
for a graph
G
of order
n
. For cubic graphs, our algorithm runs in time 3

(1/5)
n

the previous best was 2

(1/2)
n

. For general graphs, we give an unrelated algorithm running in time 1.5183

n

the previous best was 1.5673

n

.

The previous best algorithms for these problems all used local transformations and were analyzed by the Measure and Conquer method. Our new algorithms capitalize on the existence of small balanced separators for cubic graphs—a non-local property—and the ability to tailor the local algorithms always to “pivot” on a vertex in the separator. The new algorithms perform much as the old ones until the separator is empty, at which point they gain because the remaining vertices are split into two independent problem instances that can be solved recursively. It is likely that such algorithms can be effective for other problems too, and we present their design and analysis in a general framework.
Preparation, Characterization, and Evaluation of Humidity-Dependent Electrical Properties of Undoped and Niobium Oxide-Doped TiO2 : WO3 Mixed Powders
Authors: Faia Pedro M. , Libardi Juliano , Barbosa Itamar , Araújo Evando S. , de Oliveira Helinando P. 
Published: December 2017

The study of selective metal oxide-based binary/ternary systems has received increasing interest in recent years due to the possibility of producing efficient new ceramic materials for relative humidity (RH) detection, given the superior properties of the mixed compounds in comparison with pristine ones. The aim of this work was focused on preparation and characterization of non-doped and Nb2O5-doped TiO2 : WO3 pair (in the pellet form) and evaluation of corresponding humidity-dependent electrical properties. The microstructure of the samples was analyzed from scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction patterns, Raman spectra, BET surface area analysis, and porosimetry. The electrical characterization was obtained from impedance spectroscopy (100 Hz to 40 MHz) in the 10–100% RH range. The results showed that adequate doping levels of Nb2O5 introduce important advantages due to the atomic substitution of Ti by Nb atoms in highly doped structures with different levels of porosity and grain sizes. These aspects introduced a key role in the excursion (one order of magnitude) in the bulk resistance and grain boundary resistance, which characterizes these composite ceramics as a promising platform for RH identification.
Statin Effects on Metabolic Profiles
Authors: Kofink Daniel , Eppinga Ruben N. , van Gilst Wiek H. , Bakker Stephan J.L. , Dullaart Robin P.F. , van der Harst Pim , Asselbergs Folkert W. 
Published: December 2017

Background—
Statins lower cholesterol by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme of the metabolic pathway that produces cholesterol and other isoprenoids. Little is known about their effects on metabolite and lipoprotein subclass profiles. We, therefore, investigated the molecular changes associated with pravastatin treatment compared with placebo administration using a nuclear magnetic resonance–based metabolomics platform.

Methods and Results—
We performed metabolic profiling of 231 lipoprotein and metabolite measures in the PREVEND IT (Prevention of Renal and Vascular End-stage Disease Intervention Trial) study, a placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial designed to test the effects of pravastatin (40 mg once daily) on cardiovascular risk. Metabolic profiles were assessed at baseline and after 3 months of treatment. Pravastatin lowered low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (change in SD units [95% confidence interval]: −1.01 [−1.14, −0.88]), remnant cholesterol (change in SD units [95% confidence interval]: −1.03 [−1.17, −0.89]), and apolipoprotein B (change in SD units [95% confidence interval]: −0.98 [−1.11, −0.86]) with similar effect magnitudes. In addition, pravastatin globally lowered levels of lipoprotein subclasses, with the exception of high-density lipoprotein subclasses, which displayed a more heterogeneous response pattern. The lipid-lowering effect of pravastatin was accompanied by selective changes in lipid composition, particularly in the cholesterol content of very-low-density lipoproteinparticles. In addition, pravastatin reduced levels of several fatty acids but had limited effects on fatty acid ratios.

Conclusions—
These randomized clinical trial data demonstrate the widespread effects of pravastatin treatment on lipoprotein subclass profiles and fatty acids.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT03073018.
Stress Echocardiography Positivity Predicts Cancer Death
Authors: Carpeggiani Clara , Landi Patrizia , Michelassi Claudio , Andreassi Maria Grazia , Sicari Rosa , Picano Eugenio 
Published: December 2017

Background

Stress echocardiography (
SE
) predicts cardiac death, but an increasing share of cardiac patients eventually die of cancer. The aim of the study was to assess whether
SE
positivity predicts cancer death.

Methods and Results

In a retrospective analysis of prospectively acquired single‐center, observational data, we evaluated 4673 consecutive patients who underwent
SE
from 1983 to 2009. All patients were cancer‐free at index
SE
and were followed up for a median of 131 months (interquartile range 134). We separately analyzed predetermined end points: cardiovascular, cancer, and noncardiovascular, noncancer death, with and without competing risk.
SE
was positive in 1757 and negative in 2916 patients; 869 cardiovascular, 418 cancer, and 625 noncardiovascular, noncancer deaths were registered. The 25‐year mortality was higher in
SE
‐positive than in
SE
‐negative patients, considering cardiovascular (40% versus 31%;
P
<0.001) and cancer mortality (26% versus 17%;
P
<0.01).
SE
positivity was a strong predictor of cancer (cause‐specific hazard ratio 1.19; 95% confidence interval, 1.16–1.73;
P
=0.05) and cardiovascular mortality (1.18; 95% confidence interval, 1.03–1.35;
P
=0.02). Fine–Gray analysis to account for competing risk gave similar results. Cancer risk diverged after 15 years, whereas differences were already significant at 5 years for cardiovascular risk.

Conclusions

SE
results predict cardiovascular and cancer mortality.
SE
may act as a proxy of the shared risk factor milieu for cancer or cardiovascular death.
Dublin iv and excom: Aspirational Blunders and Illusive Solidarity
Authors: Capicchiano Young Sophie 
Published: December 2017

Abstract
The Dublin iv proposal of 2016 was ostensibly made necessary by the lack of functional and effective burden-sharing between eu Member States. Dublin iv purports to ameliorate this inequality by instituting a series of mechanisms that would ensure that any increase in the rate of migration to the eu territory would be met with collective action. However, an analysis of the Dublin iv provisions reveals that in its operation it would do no such thing. Also in 2016, the Executive Committee of the unhcr provided conclusions on burden-sharing and youth respectively. Though considered by some national judiciaries and human rights treaty bodies to be of significant value to the development of international refugee law, the conclusions of the Executive Committee on burden-sharing and youth are not reflective of eu State practice. Rather, eu State practice is revealed in the Dublin iv proposal and the inequality that it promotes. This article comparatively analyses the 2016 excom Conclusions and the Dublin iv proposal and makes the case that the conclusion of excom are purely aspirational and lack substantive value, and that Dublin iv illustrates that lack of substantive value through the potential future operation of its provisions.
The Problem of Exclusion from Refugee Status on the Grounds of Being Guilty of Terrorist Acts in the cjeu Case-law
Authors: Kosińska Anna Magdalena 
Published: December 2017

Abstract
The current article provides a critical analysis of the rulings of the European Court of Justice with regard to the exclusion of third-country nationals from the possibility of applying for refugee status on the grounds of serious reasons for considering that a person is being guilty of terrorist acts. The cjeu examined the grounds for exclusion in Cases B. and D. (C-57/09), H.T. (C-373/13) and also in the judgment of 21 January 2017 passed in the Lounani case (C-573/14) and conducted a complex analysis of Article 12 of the Qualification Directive. The instrument of exclusion is, as such, applied in exceptional cases under strictly defined legal circumstances, depriving at the same time a third-country national of the guarantees under Article 18 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights. The cjeu has proposed an interesting legislative acquis, which is worth putting under discussion. On the one hand, the Court has highlighted the necessity to individually examine each case and, on the other, the possibility of excluding a person posing a threat to the receiving country. The balance between these two values—the safety of the receiving community and the protection of fundamental rights of third-country nationals seems to be especially significant in the current situation, when the eu faces an increased influx of persons seeking international protection due to the migration crisis.
‘Study Effortless-Action’
Authors: Keyworth George A. 
Published: December 2017

Today there is a distinction in Japanese Zen Buddhist monasticism between prayer temples and training centers. Zen training is typically thought to encompass either meditation training or public-case introspection, or both. Yet first-hand accounts exist from the Edo period (1603–1868) which suggest that the study of Buddhist (e.g., public case records, discourse records, sūtra literature, prayer manuals) and Chinese (poetry, philosophy, history) literature may have been equally if not more important topics for rigorous study. How much more so the case with the cultivation of the literary arts by Zen monastics? This paper first investigates the case of a network of eminent seventeenth- and eighteenth-century scholar-monks from all three modern traditions of Japanese Zen—Sōtō, Rinzai, and Ōbaku—who extolled the commentary Kakumon Kantetsu 廓門貫徹 (d. 1730) wrote to every single piece of poetry or prose in Juefan Huihong’s 覺範恵洪 (1071–1128) collected works, Chan of Words and Letters from Stone Gate Monastery (Ch. Shimen wenzichan; Jp. Sekimon mojizen). Next, it explores what the wooden engravings of Study Effortless-Action and Efficacious Vulture at Daiōji, the temple where Kantetsu was the thirteenth abbot and where he welcomed the Chinese émigré Buddhist monk Xinyue Xingchou (Shin’etsu Kōchū 心越興儔, alt. Donggao Xinyue, Tōkō Shin’etsu 東皐心越, 1639–1696), might disclose about how Zen was cultivated in practice? Finally, this paper asks how Kantetsu’s promotion of Huihong’s “scholastic” or “lettered” Chan or Zen might lead us rethink the role of Song dynasty (960–1279) literary arts within the rich historical context of Zen Buddhism in Edo Japan?
The ECOWAS Court of Justice as an Investment Tribunal
Authors: Happold Matthew , Radović Relja 
Published: December 2017

Abstract
This article considers the extent to which foreign investors in Member States of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) might be able to use the ECOWAS Court of Justice to protect their investments against actions of their host States. It does so taking into account the ECOWAS Supplementary Act on Investments and the jurisprudence of the Court of Justice on, in particular, the extent of its substantive jurisdiction. Although it is not suggested that the Court of Justice would be better forum than an international arbitral tribunal, it is argued that it has considerable advantages over national courts.
A latent class analysis of psychotic symptoms in the general population
Authors: Pignon Baptiste , Peyre Hugo , Szöke Andrei , Geoffroy Pierre A , Rolland Benjamin , Jardri Renaud , Thomas Pierre , Vaiva Guillaume , Roelandt Jean-Luc , Benradia Imane , Behal Hélène , Schürhoff Franck , Amad Ali 
Published: December 2017

Objective: Individuals with psychotic symptoms may actually correspond to various subgroups, characterized by different patterns of psychotic symptoms as well as specific sociodemographic and clinical correlates. We aimed to identify groups of individuals from the general population with specific patterns of psychotic symptoms. Methods: In a 38,694-subject survey, a latent class analysis was performed to identify subgroups based on the distribution of seven psychotic symptoms taken from the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. The different classes were subsequently compared according to sociodemographic and clinical correlates. Results: The best fit was obtained with a four-class solution, including the following: (1) a class with a low prevalence of all psychotic symptoms (‘LOW’, 85.9%); (2) a class with a high prevalence of all psychotic symptoms (‘HAL + DEL’, 1.7%); and classes with a high prevalence of (3) hallucinations (‘HAL’, 4.5%) or (4) delusions (‘DEL’, 7.9%). The HAL + DEL class displayed higher rates of history of trauma, social deprivation and migrant status, while the HAL and DEL classes displayed intermediate rates between HAL + DEL and LOW. HAL + DEL displayed the highest rates of psychotic and non-psychotic disorders and the use of mental health treatment, while HAL and DEL displayed intermediate rates of these disorders between HAL + DEL and LOW. In comparison to the HAL class, psychotic and substance use disorders were more frequent in the DEL class, while anxiety and mood disorders were less frequent. Conclusion: These findings support the hypothesis of a continuum model relating the level of psychotic symptoms to the level of global psychopathology.
Adenotonsillectomy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children with Complex Chronic Conditions
Authors: Amin Reshma , Holler Theresa , Narang Indra , Cushing Sharon L. , Propst Evan J. , Al‐Saleh Suhail 
Published: December 2017

ObjectiveTo estimate the prevalence of persistent obstructive sleep apnea postadenotonsillectomy in children with complex chronic conditions.Study DesignA retrospective cohort study.SettingThe Hospital for Sick Children Sleep laboratory.SubjectsChildren ≤18 years of age who had moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea and had polysomnography pre‐ and postadenotonsillectomy.MethodsMedical and polysomnographic data were reviewed. The prevalence of persistent obstructive sleep apnea postadenotonsillectomy was determined for the following groups: no complex chronic conditions, single‐system complex chronic conditions, and multisystem complex chronic conditions.ResultsWe reviewed data of 133 (84 male) children. Their mean (standard deviation) age was 5.5 (3.8) years. The persistent obstructive sleep apnea rate postadenotonsillectomy was highest in children with multisystem complex chronic conditions (57%), intermediate in children with single‐system complex chronic conditions (29%), and lowest in children without complex chronic conditions (15%), P =. 0004. The odds (confidence interval) of having persistent obstructive sleep apnea postadenotonsillectomy was 7.42 (2.16‐25.51) times higher in children with multisystem complex chronic conditions vs no complex chronic conditions and 3.35 (1.16‐9.64) times higher in children with multisystem complex chronic conditions vs single‐system complex chronic conditions.ConclusionsAlthough adenotonsillectomy is considered first‐line therapy in healthy children older than 2 years for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea, there is a significantly greater risk of persistent obstructive sleep apnea postadenotonsillectomy in children with complex chronic conditions. Therefore, other surgical procedures or nonsurgical management may need to be considered as first‐line treatment for this cohort.