bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Serum retinol in post‐partum mothers and newborns from an impoverished South African community where liver is frequently eaten and vitamin A deficiency is absent
Authors: van Stuijvenberg Martha E. , Schoeman Serina E. , Nel Jana , Lombard Carl J. , Dhansay Muhammad A. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractSerum retinol was assessed in mothers and newborns from an impoverished South African community where liver is frequently eaten and vitamin A deficiency known to be absent. Paired cord and maternal blood (n = 201) were collected after delivery and analysed for serum retinol and C‐reactive protein (CRP). Liver intake during pregnancy and intention to breastfeed were also assessed. Mean serum retinol was 1.03 µmol/L ± 0.40 in mothers and 0.73 ± 0.24 µmol/L in newborns, with 21.4% and 49.3% having serum retinol <0.70 µmol/L (<20 µg/dL), respectively. Raised CRP was found in 59.9% of mothers, with a significant negative correlation between serum retinol and CRP (r = −0.273;p < 0.0001). Liver was eaten by 87.6% of mothers, and 99% indicated their intention to breastfeed. Despite consumption of liver, serum retinol was low in both the mother and the newborn. The conventional cut‐off for serum retinol, i.e. <0.70 µmol/L may therefore not apply for the mother and newborn in the period immediately after delivery. Serum retinol may be influenced by factors other than vitamin A status, e.g. the haemodilution of pregnancy, as well as the acute phase response induced by the birth process, as suggested by raised CRP in 60% of mothers. In the newborns, the low serum retinol is likely to increase rapidly, as liver is frequently eaten by mothers and practically all of them intended to breastfeed. Our results confirm the need for better indicators of vitamin A status or alternative cut‐off values during this period.
Appearance and Reality in The Philosophical Gourmet Report: Why the Discrepancy Matters to the Profession of Philosophy
Authors: Bruya Brian 
Published: November 2015

AbstractThis article is a data‐driven critique of The Philosophical Gourmet Report (PGR), the most institutionally influential publication in the field of Anglophone philosophy. The PGR is influential because it is perceived to be of high value. The article demonstrates that the actual value of the PGR, in its current form, is not nearly as high as it is assumed to be and that the PGR is, in fact, detrimental to the profession. The article lists and explains five objections to the methods and methodology of the report. Taken together, the objections demonstrate that the report is severely flawed, failing to provide the information it purports to and damaging the profession overall. Finally, the article explains how several modifications may improve the PGR so that it can more legitimately and equitably play the role it already plays.
Philosophical Error and the Economics of Belief Formation
Authors: Skene Matthew 
Published: November 2015

AbstractRecent work has demonstrated that academic research faces serious challenges. Incentives to defend publishable ideas often lead researchers astray. Despite their tendency to produce error, efforts to publish erroneous results typically help a researcher's career. In addition, errors often arise from seemingly innocent methodological assumptions that allow researchers to believe their research is sound. This article discusses this research, as well as research into difficulties facing epistemic rationality caused by nonepistemic incentives. It then applies the lessons of this research to philosophical practice. It explains why philosophy likely suffers from these problems. It then provides an example of a widely shared methodological assumption that allows such research to be pursued and regularly published. It claims that the significance philosophers place on arguments is inappropriate, and that typical evaluations of philosophical arguments involve an instance of the base‐rate fallacy. It concludes by discussing whether or not this article is self‐defeating.
Cyclic di‐AMP mediates biofilm formation
Authors: Peng Xian , Zhang Yang , Bai Guangchun , Zhou Xuedong , Wu Hui 
Published: November 2015

SummaryCyclic di‐AMP (c‐di‐AMP) is an emerging second messenger in bacteria. It has been shown to play important roles in bacterial fitness and virulence. However, transduction of c‐di‐AMP signaling in bacteria and the role of c‐di‐AMP in biofilm formation are not well understood. The level of c‐di‐AMP is modulated by activity of di‐adenylyl cyclase that produces c‐di‐AMP and phosphodiesterase (PDE) that degrades c‐di‐AMP. In this study, we determined that increased c‐di‐AMP levels by deletion of the pdeA gene coding for a PDE promoted biofilm formation in Streptococcus mutans. Deletion of pdeA upregulated expression of gtfB, the gene coding for a major glucan producing enzyme. Inactivation of gtfB blocked the increased biofilm by the pdeA mutant. Two c‐di‐AMP binding proteins including CabPA (SMU_1562) and CabPB (SMU_1708) were identified. Interestingly, only CabPA deficiency inhibited both the increased biofilm formation and the upregulated expression of GtfB observed in the pdeA mutant. In addition, CabPA but not CabPB interacted with VicR, a known transcriptional factor that regulates expression of gtfB, suggesting that a signaling link between CabPA and GtfB through VicR. Increased biofilm by the pdeA deficiency also enhanced bacterial colonization of Drosophila in vivo. Taken together, our studies reveal a new role of c‐di‐AMP in mediating biofilm formation through a CabPA/VicR/GtfB signaling network in S. mutans.
AmrZ regulates cellulose production in Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000
Authors: Prada‐Ramírez Harold A. , Pérez‐Mendoza Daniel , Felipe Antonia , Martínez‐Granero Francisco , Rivilla Rafael , Sanjuán Juan , Gallegos María‐Trinidad 
Published: November 2015

SummaryIn Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000, the second messenger c‐di‐GMP has been previously shown to stimulate pellicle formation and cellulose biosynthesis. A screen for genes involved in cellulose production under high c‐di‐GMP intracellular levels led to the identification of insertions in two genes, wssB and wssE, belonging to the Pto DC3000 cellulose biosynthesis operon wssABCDEFGHI. Interestingly, beside cellulose‐deficient mutants, colonies with a rougher appearance than the wild type also arouse among the transposants. Those mutants carry insertions in amrZ, a gene encoding a transcriptional regulator in different Pseudomonas. Here, we provide evidence that AmrZ is involved in the regulation of bacterial cellulose production at transcriptional level by binding to the promoter region of the wssABCDEFGHI operon and repressing cellulose biosynthesis genes. Mutation of amrZ promotes wrinkly colony morphology, increased cellulose production and loss of motility in Pto DC3000. AmrZ regulon includes putative c‐di‐GMP metabolising proteins, like AdcA and MorA, which may also impact those phenotypes. Furthermore, an amrZ but not a cellulose‐deficient mutant turned out to be impaired in pathogenesis, indicating that AmrZ is a key regulator of Pto DC3000 virulence probably by controlling bacterial processes other than cellulose production.
Delaying diagnostic procedure significantly increases mortality in patients with invasive mucormycosis
Authors: Jeong Su Jin , Lee Ji Un , Song Young Goo , Lee Kyoung Hwa , Lee Min Joo 
Published: November 2015

SummaryInvasive mucormycosis is an uncommon but increasing life‐threatening fungal infection. The present study investigated clinical characteristics and mortality among patients diagnosed as invasive mucormycosis infection. We retrospectively reviewed a total of 24 histologically proven cases of invasive mucormycosis at two tertiary care referral hospitals between November 2005 and February 2014. Overall survival was 50% (n = 12). The time between onset of symptom and diagnostic procedure proved to be associated with mortality (P = 0.009). In addition, preexisting renal failure and thrombocytopenia demonstrated trends toward a poor outcome in our study (P = 0.089 and 0.065, respectively). On multivariate regression analysis, delayed diagnostic procedure (more than 16 days after the onset of symptoms) was an independent predictor of mortality (OR= 12.34, 95% CI, 1.43–10.64; P = 0.022). Mucormycosis is a destructive fungal infection that is associated with high mortality rates, ranging from 40% to 100% depending on the form of disease. When a clinician suspects invasive mucormycosis infection, an early diagnostic procedure performed within 16 days from the onset of symptom and early initiation of antifungal therapy will lead to successful management of this highly fatal disease.
Common foliar fungi of Populus trichocarpa modify Melampsora rust disease severity
Authors: Busby Posy E. , Peay Kabir G. , Newcombe George 
Published: November 2015

Summary

Nonpathogenic foliar fungi (i.e. endophytes and epiphytes) can modify plant disease severity in controlled experiments. However, experiments have not been combined with ecological studies in wild plant pathosystems to determine whether disease‐modifying fungi are common enough to be ecologically important.

We used culture‐based methods and DNA sequencing to characterize the abundance and distribution of foliar fungi of Populus trichocarpa in wild populations across its native range (Pacific Northwest, USA). We conducted complementary, manipulative experiments to test how foliar fungi commonly isolated from those populations influence the severity of Melampsora leaf rust disease. Finally, we examined correlative relationships between the abundance of disease‐modifying foliar fungi and disease severity in wild trees.

A taxonomically and geographically diverse group of common foliar fungi significantly modified disease severity in experiments, either increasing or decreasing disease severity. Spatial patterns in the abundance of some of these foliar fungi were significantly correlated (in predicted directions) with disease severity in wild trees.

Our study reveals that disease modification is an ecological function shared by common foliar fungal symbionts of P. trichocarpa. This finding raises new questions about plant disease ecology and plant biodiversity, and has applied potential for disease management.
Genome‐wide association analysis and differential expression analysis of resistance to Sclerotinia stem rot in Brassica napus
Authors: Wei Lijuan , Jian Hongju , Lu Kun , Filardo Fiona , Yin Nengwen , Liu Liezhao , Qu Cunmin , Li Wei , Du Hai , Li Jiana 
Published: November 2015

SummaryBrassica napus is one of the most important oil crops in the world, and stem rot caused by the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum results in major losses in yield and quality. To elucidate resistance genes and pathogenesis‐related genes, genome‐wide association analysis of 347 accessions was performed using the Illumina 60K Brassica SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) array. In addition, the detached stem inoculation assay was used to select five highly resistant (R) and susceptible (S) B. napus lines, 48 h postinoculation with S. sclerotiorum for transcriptome sequencing. We identified 17 significant associations for stem resistance on chromosomes A8 and C6, five of which were on A8 and 12 on C6. The SNPs identified on A8 were located in a 409‐kb haplotype block, and those on C6 were consistent with previous QTL mapping efforts. Transcriptome analysis suggested that S. sclerotiorum infection activates the immune system, sulphur metabolism, especially glutathione (GSH) and glucosinolates in both R and S genotypes. Genes found to be specific to the R genotype related to the jasmonic acid pathway, lignin biosynthesis, defence response, signal transduction and encoding transcription factors. Twenty‐four genes were identified in both the SNP‐trait association and transcriptome sequencing analyses, including a tau class glutathione S‐transferase (GSTU) gene cluster. This study provides useful insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying the plant's response to S. sclerotiorum.
Mechanisms of waterlogging tolerance in wheat – a review of root and shoot physiology
Authors: Herzog Max , Striker Gustavo G. , Colmer Timothy D. , Pedersen Ole 
Published: November 2015

AbstractWe review the detrimental effects of waterlogging on physiology, growth and yield of wheat. We highlight traits contributing to waterlogging tolerance and genetic diversity in wheat. Death of seminal roots and restriction of adventitious root length due to O2 deficiency result in low root:shoot ratio. Genotypes differ in seminal root anoxia tolerance, but mechanisms remain to be established; ethanol production rates do not explain anoxia tolerance. Root tip survival is short‐term, and thereafter, seminal root re‐growth upon re‐aeration is limited. Genotypes differ in adventitious root numbers and in aerenchyma formation within these roots, resulting in varying waterlogging tolerances. Root extension is restricted by capacity for internal O2 movement to the apex. Sub‐optimal O2 restricts root N uptake and translocation to the shoots, with N deficiency causing reduced shoot growth and grain yield. Although photosynthesis declines, sugars typically accumulate in shoots of waterlogged plants. Mn or Fe toxicity might occur in shoots of wheat on strongly acidic soils, but probably not more widely. Future breeding for waterlogging tolerance should focus on root internal aeration and better N‐use efficiency; exploiting the genetic diversity in wheat for these and other traits should enable improvement of waterlogging tolerance.
Immigrants’ Social Capital and Labor Market Performance: The Effect of Social Ties on Earnings and Occupational Prestige*
Authors: Tegegne Mesay A. 
Published: November 2015

ObjectivesWhile a growing body of literature investigates the role of social capital in the labor market outcomes of immigrants, the verdict is still out on whether or not reliance on social networks enhances or constrains labor market performance. This study explores the effect of relying on social ties to find a job on the hourly earnings and occupational prestige of new legal immigrants in the United States.MethodsUtilizing data from the New Immigrant Survey 2003 cohort, the effect on occupational outcomes of relying on social ties to locate a job is estimated using both ordinary least squares (OLS) regression and propensity score matching (PSM), to minimize observable selection bias. Propensity score matching is used to identify the treatment effect of using social contacts by comparing the outcomes of closely matched treatment and control groups.ResultsBoth OLS and PSM estimates indicate that using a close contact to find a job has a detrimental effect on earnings and occupational prestige. The effect of social capital, however, varies across groups. Particularly, while social capital has little or no effect on the labor market outcomes of black and Hispanic immigrants, it has a detrimental effect on the occupational prestige of Asian and white immigrants (the effect being stronger for Asians than for whites).ConclusionSocial capital research on immigrants’ outcomes should, therefore, take caution in generalizing from group‐specific research, as these findings point to contextual labor market effects of social capital.
Gender Differences in Response to Setbacks: Evidence from Professional Tennis*
Authors: Banko Lauren , Leeds Eva Marikova , Leeds Michael A. 
Published: November 2015

ObjectiveWe inquire whether the glass ceiling stems in part from the fact that women are more discouraged by setbacks than men are, as suggested by economic and psychological experiments. We use data from professional tennis to test this hypothesis.MethodWe apply ordered probit, ordinary least squares, and binomial probit to data from the 2012 ATP and WTA tennis tours.ResultsWomen are not more likely than men to lose in straight sets or to lose the second two sets. Women who lose in straight sets win fewer games in the second set than men do. Women who lose the second set are more likely than men to withdraw from the third set.ConclusionWomen are not more likely to lose because of setbacks, but those who do tend to lose by wider margins than men. This suggests that the glass ceiling is not the result of women being more easily discouraged than men.
False‐positive hepatitis C virus serology after placement of a ventricular assistance device
Authors: Durand C.M. , Marr K.A. , Ostrander D. , Subramanian A. , Valsamakis A. , Cox A. , Neofytos D. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractBackgroundVentricular assist devices (VADs) have been associated with immune activation and sensitization. We observed several cases of false‐positive (FP) hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody (Ab) tests in patients being evaluated for orthotopic heart transplant (OHT), prompting us to investigate this further.MethodsWe reviewed all VAD and OHT cases at Johns Hopkins from 2005 to 2012. FP HCV serology was defined as an equivocal or low‐positive HCV Ab, plus either (i) a negative recombinant immunoblot (RIBA) and/or HCV nucleic acid test (NAT), or (ii) an indeterminate RIBA and negative NAT.ResultsIn 53 patients with available HCV testing, nearly 40% of patients (21/53: 39.6%) developed FP HCV Ab tests after VAD placement: 4 patients had negative NAT, 12 had negative RIBA, and 5 had an indeterminate RIBA and negative NAT. All patients with indeterminate RIBA tests had isolated reactivity to the same HCV protein, c100p/5‐1‐1p (NS4b protein). In 3 of 4 VAD patients who had OHT and repeat HCV Ab testing after VAD removal, repeat HCV Ab was negative (699–947 days after OHT); in 1 case, FP HCV serology persisted (5 days after OHT). Thirteen patients had OHT alone and none developed a FP HCV Ab.ConclusionsFP HCV Ab results following VAD placement are very common. Reversal of FP serology in several patients after VAD removal is suggestive of a possible association with the VAD hardware. Clinicians should be aware of this phenomenon, as it could lead to delays in determining eligibility for OHT and increased costs.
High rate of vaccine failure after administration of acellular pertussis vaccine pre‐ and post‐liver transplantation in children at a children's hospital in Japan
Authors: Ito K. , Kasahara M. , Saitoh A. , Honda H. , Miyairi I. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractWe assessed the serological response to pertussis vaccines administered pre‐ and post‐liver transplantation in 58 pediatric patients at a children's hospital in Japan. A high rate of pertussis vaccine failure was observed, 44.8% against the pertussis toxin and 69.0% against filamentous hemagglutinin, with no difference in the seropositivity rate with respect to the timing of the vaccination during the peritransplant period.
The prevalence of hepatitis A virus and parvovirus B19 in source‐plasma donors and whole blood donors in China
Authors: Han T. , Li C. , Zhang Y. , Wang Y. , Wu B. , Ke L , Liu G , Li L. , Liu Y. , Liu Z. 
Published: November 2015

SUMMARYAimsTo compare the prevalence of hepatitis A virus (HAV) and human parvovirus B19 (B19V) between source‐plasma (SP) donors and whole blood (WB) donors.BackgroundIn China, source plasma is in severe shortage while plasma recovered from WB is in surplus. Thus, the government is considering transferring the recovered plasma (RP) to produce plasma derivatives. HAV and B19V are two pathogens threatening the safety of plasma‐based derivatives. However, there is no data about if transferring of the RP to produce plasma derivatives will increase the risk of HAV and B19V infection. Thus, we compared the prevalence of HAV and B19V between SP donors and WB donors in this study.MethodsA total of 5030 samples from SP donors and 5040 samples from WB donors were collected. All the samples were tested for HAV RNA and B19V DNA and tested for HAV IgM by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).ResultsThe prevalence of B19V DNA was 0·06% (95% confidence interval (CI), 0–0·09%) in WB donors and 0·079% (95%CI, 0–0·12%) in SP donors, respectively. No significant difference was found in the prevalence of B19V DNA between SP donors and WB donors. The prevalence of anti‐HAV IgM in SP donors was 0·079% whereas no WB donor sample was found anti‐HAV IgM reactive.ConclusionsThe transfer of RP to producing plasma derivatives will not increase the risk of transmission of HAV and B19 through plasma products.
(STILL) DISAGREEING ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE: WHICH WAY FORWARD?
Authors: Hulme Mike 
Published: November 2015

AbstractWhy does climate change continue to be a forceful idea which divides people? What does this tell us about science, about culture, and about the future? Despite disagreement, how might the idea of climate change nevertheless be used creatively? In this essay I develop my investigation of these questions using four lines of argument. First, the future risks associated with human‐caused climate change are severely underdetermined by science. Scientific predictions of future climates are poorly constrained; even more so the consequences of such climates for evolving human socio‐technological and natural ecosystems. Second, I argue that to act politically in the world, people have to pass judgments on the facts of science; facts do not speak for themselves. Third, because these judgments are different, the strategic goals of policy interventions developed in response to risks associated with future climate change are inevitably multiple and conflicting. Finally, reconciling and achieving diverse goals requires political contestation. “Moving forward” on climate change then becomes a task of investing in the discursive and procedural preconditions for an agonistic politics to work constructively, to enable ways of implementing policies when people disagree.
THE HUMAN BEING SHAPING AND TRANSCENDING ITSELF: WRITTEN LANGUAGE, BRAIN, AND CULTURE
Authors: Colagè Ivan 
Published: November 2015

AbstractRecent theological anthropology emphasizes a dynamic and integral understanding of the human being, which is also related to Karl Rahner's idea of active self‐transcendence and to the imago Dei doctrine. The recent neuroscientific discovery of the “visual word form area” for reading, regarded in light of the concept of cultural neural reuse, will produce fresh implications for the interrelation of brain biology and human culture. The theological and neuroscientific parts are shown in their mutual connections thus articulating the notion that human beings shape and transcend themselves both at the biological and at the cultural level. This will have relevant implications for the timely topic of human uniqueness in science and theology, and in proposing a new research perspective in which theology may consider culture along with its biological import, but not necessarily in strictly evolutionary terms alone.
THE EVOLUTION OF HUMAN BIRTH AND TRANSHUMANIST PROPOSALS OF ENHANCEMENT
Authors: Cruz Eduardo R. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractSome transhumanists argue that we must engage with theories and facts about our evolutionary past in order to promote future enhancements of the human body. At the same time, they call our attention to the flawed character of evolution and argue that there is a mismatch between adaptation to ancestral environments and contemporary life. One important trait of our evolutionary past which should not be ignored, and yet may hinder the continued perfection of humankind, is the peculiarly human way of bearing and raising children. The suffering associated with childbirth and a long childhood have demanded trade‐offs that have enhanced our species, leading to cooperation, creativity, intelligence and resilience. Behaviors such as mother–infant engagement, empathy, storytelling, and ritual have also helped to create what we value most in human beings. Therefore, the moral, cognitive, and emotional enhancements proposed by these transhumanists may be impaired by their partial appropriation of evolution, insofar as the bittersweet experience of parenthood is left aside.