bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Increased levels of PD‐1 expression on CD8 T cells in patients post‐renal transplant irrespective of chronic high EBV viral load
Authors: Moran Julie , Dean Jonathan , De Oliveira Andre , O'Connell Marie , Riordan Michael , Connell Jeff , Awan Atif , Hall William W. , Hassan Jaythoon
Published: October 2013

Studies have identified solid organ transplant recipients who remain asymptomatic despite maintaining CHL. Factors which determine the CHL state remain poorly understood but are likely to involve immunological control of the viral infection. We monitored expression of PD‐1, a marker of T‐cell exhaustion and viral persistence, on CD8 T cells in patients who resolved EBV infection as determined by undetectable EBV DNA (REI) and CHL patients. PD‐1 expression on CD8 T cells was increased in the first year post‐transplant irrespective of EBV outcome, and most CD8 T cells continued to express PD‐1 for up to three yr post‐transplant. Although all patient groups showed similar frequencies of EBV‐specific CD8+ T cells, PD‐1 expression on these cells increased in the post‐transplant groups compared with the pretransplant patients. Functional studies of EBV‐specific CD8+ T cells stimulated with BZLF or LMP2 peptide pools revealed monofunctional IFN‐γ responses. Our results indicate that PD‐1 expression on CD8 T cells post‐transplant may result from factors other than antigenic stimulation.
Multiple listing for pediatric heart transplantation in the USA: Analysis of OPTN registry data from 1995 through 2009
Authors: Feingold Brian , Park Seo Y. , Comer Diane M. , Webber Steven A. , Bryce Cindy L.
Published: October 2013

Multiple listing is associated with shorter waitlist durations and increased likelihood of transplantation for renal candidates. Little is known about multiple listing in pediatric heart transplantation. We examined the prevalence and outcomes of multiple listing using OPTN data from 1995 through 2009. Characteristics and waitlist outcomes of propensity‐score‐matched single‐ and multiple‐listed patients were compared. Multiple listing occurred in 23 of 6290 listings (0.4%). Median days between listings was 35 (0–1015) and median duration of multiple listings was 32 days (3–363). Among multiple‐listed patients, there were trends toward less ECMO use (0% vs. 11%, p = 0.1) and more frequent requirement for a prospective cross‐match (17% vs. 8%, p = 0.08). Multiple‐listed patients more commonly had private insurance (78% vs. 56%; p = 0.03). Urgency status at listing was similar between groups (1/1A: 61% vs. 64%, 1B/2: 39 vs. 36%; p = 0.45) as were weight, age, diagnosis, ventilator/inotrope use, and median income (each p ≥ 0.17). There was a trend toward increased incidence of heart transplantation for multiple‐listed patients at three, six, and 24 months (50%, 65%, 80%) vs. single‐listed patients (40%, 54%, 64%; p = 0.11). Multiple listing for pediatric heart transplantation in the USA occurs infrequently and is more common in patients with private insurance.
Breastfeeding: A holistic Concept Analysis
Authors: Bomer‐Norton Christy
Published: October 2013

Breastfeeding is a critical public health intervention. Nurses play a vital role in promoting and supporting optimal breastfeeding practices in infants and young children. An analysis following the eight‐part Walker & Avant method provides clarity and context to the concept of breastfeeding. The antecedents of the concept of breastfeeding indicate nurse interventions to facilitate and the consequences provide key points for education related to the benefits of breastfeeding.
Amplified Production of Singlet Oxygen in Aqueous Solution Using Metal Enhancement Effects
Authors: Mooi Sara M. , Heyne Belinda
Published: October 2013

Studies involving metal enhancement effects have gained popularity, and enhancement of fluorescence due to the close proximity of a dye molecule to a metal nanoparticle is well documented. Although enhancement of singlet oxygen production by metal has been reported, studies are relatively scarce and so far only stationary silver island films have been proven to be adequate to do so. Herein, we describe the synthesis and characterization of core–shell nanoparticles on which a photosensitizer acting as source of singlet oxygen has been covalently attached to the nanoparticle surface. As a proof of concept, silver nanoparticles with a diameter around 68 nm were chosen as the metallic core, and were coated by a silica shell of about 22 nm in thickness. The silica shell plays a dual role as a spacer and a medium onto which the photosensitizer, rose bengal (RB), has been covalently attached. These novel core–shell nanoparticles allow for the amplification of singlet oxygen production by 3.8 times, which is similar to the amplification found for RB in proximity of silver island films.
Photophysics of Glycosylated Derivatives of a Chlorin, Isobacteriochlorin and Bacteriochlorin for Photodynamic Theragnostics: Discovery of a Two‐photon‐absorbing Photosensitizer
Authors: Aggarwal Amit , Thompson Sebastian , Singh Sunaina , Newton Brandon , Moore Akeem , Gao Ruomie , Gu Xinbin , Mukherjee Sushmita , Drain Charles Michael
Published: October 2013

The photophysical properties of a chlorin, isobacteriochlorin and bacteriochlorin built on a core tetrapentafluorophenylporphyrin (TPPF20) and the nonhydrolyzable para thioglycosylated conjugates of these chromophores are presented. The photophysical characterization of these compounds was done in three different solvents to correlate with different environments in cells and tissues. Compared with TPPF20 other dyes have greater absorption in the red region of the visible spectrum and greater fluorescence quantum yields. The excited state lifetimes are from 3 to 11 ns. The radiative and nonradiative rate constants for deactivation of the excited state were estimated from the fluorescence quantum yield and excited state lifetime. The data indicate that the bacteriochlorin has strong absorption bands near 730 nm and efficiently enters the triplet manifold. The isobacteriochlorin has a 40–70% fluorescence quantum yield depending on solvent, so it may be a good fluorescent tag. The isobacteriochlorins also display enhanced two‐photon absorption, thereby allowing the use of 860 nm light to excite the compound. While the two‐photon cross section of 25 GM units is not large, excitation of low chromophore concentrations can induce apoptosis. The glycosylated compounds accumulate in cancer cells and a head and neck squamous carcinoma xenograft tumor model in mice. These compounds are robust to photobleaching.
Photohemolysis Sensitized by the Furocoumarin Derivative Alloimperatorin and its Hydroperoxide Photooxidation Product
Authors: Kyagova Alla , Potapenko Alexander , Möller Marianne , Stopper Helga , Adam Waldemar
Published: October 2013

The dark and photosensitized effects of alloimperatorin methyl ether 1 (hereafter simply alloimperatorin) and its photooxygenation product alloimperatorin hydroperoxide 2 were investigated on human erythrocytes. The results reveal that the furocoumarin 1 photosensitizes efficiently the hemolysis of erythrocytes. The rate of photohemolysis increases on raising the temperature of the postirradiated incubation from 4°C to 37°C. Thermal activation of the photohemolysis and inhibition by 2,6‐di‐tert‐butyl‐p‐cresol (BHT) suggest that the furocoumarin 1 photosensitizes lipid peroxidation, increasing permeability in the erythrocyte membrane. The hydroperoxide 2 induces dark and photosensitized hemolysis more efficiently than the furocoumarin 1. The rate of hemolysis induced by 2 increases with the incubation temperature and decreases in the presence of tert‐butanol and BHT. The hydroperoxide 2 photosensitizes the formation of lipid peroxidation products as shown by the reaction with thiobarbituric acid. This process is diminished by BHT. Our data imply that the photohemolysis sensitized by the furocoumarin 1 is caused by the in situ‐formed photooxygenation product 2. Such hydroperoxides are potent hemolytic agents in the dark and especially on photosensitization.
Smartphone‐Based Android app for Determining UVA Aerosol Optical Depth and Direct Solar Irradiances
Authors: Igoe Damien P. , Parisi Alfio , Carter Brad
Published: October 2013

This research describes the development and evaluation of the accuracy and precision of an Android app specifically designed, written and installed on a smartphone for detecting and quantifying incident solar UVA radiation and subsequently, aerosol optical depth at 340 and 380 nm. Earlier studies demonstrated that a smartphone image sensor can detect UVA radiation and the responsivity can be calibrated to measured direct solar irradiance. This current research provides the data collection, calibration, processing, calculations and display all on a smartphone. A very strong coefficient of determination of 0.98 was achieved when the digital response was recalibrated and compared to the Microtops sun photometer direct UVA irradiance observations. The mean percentage discrepancy for derived direct solar irradiance was only 4% and 6% for observations at 380 and 340 nm, respectively, lessening with decreasing solar zenith angle. An 8% mean percent difference discrepancy was observed when comparing aerosol optical depth, also decreasing as solar zenith angle decreases. The results indicate that a specifically designed Android app linking and using a smartphone image sensor, calendar and clock, with additional external narrow bandpass and neutral density filters can be used as a field sensor to evaluate both direct solar UVA irradiance and low aerosol optical depths for areas with low aerosol loads.
Differences in differential gene expression between young and mature Arabidopsis C58 tumours
Authors: Xiao W.‐M. , Zhao M.‐C. , Zou M. , Tan Y.‐D. , Zhang X.‐G.
Published: October 2013

Tumorigenesis of plants triggered by Agrobacterium tumefaciens has been investigated for over a century, but a global study on changes in gene expression in plant tumours during growth and development has received little attention so far due to technical difficulties. Recently a great advance in ‘omic’ technologies, e.g. microarray, proteome and transcriptome analyses, has allowed differential expression profiling of genes for metabolic regulation during plant tumour growth and development. Deeken et al.(The Plant Cell Online, 18, 3617) and Lee C.‐W. et al.(The Plant Cell Online, 21, 2948) used a fold change approach to profile genes differentially expressed (DE) between Arabidopsis inflorescence stalks infected with Agrobacterium strains C58 (carrying T‐DNA) or GV3101 (without T‐DNA) and control stalks at 3 hours, 6 days and 35 days after inoculation. We utilised ranking analysis of microarray data, a modified t‐test approach, to further analyse these microarray data and compared DE gene functioning in photosynthesis, energy, nucleotide, RNA, DNA, protein and lipid metabolism, biological defence, cell wall and signalling pathways in young (6‐day‐old) and mature (35‐day‐old) tumours. There were large differences in differential expression of genes for these basic metabolic pathways between young and mature tumours. In young tumours, more genes were up‐regulated in most metabolic functional categories than down‐regulated, whereas in mature tumours, genes involved in basic and major metabolic pathways were more down‐regulated than up‐regulated, strongly indicating that relative to the control stalk, many metabolic pathways were enhance in young tumours but decayed or tended to be decayed in mature tumours.
Secondary pollen presentation and the temporal dynamics of stylar hair retraction and style elongation in Campanula trachelium (Campanulaceae)
Authors: Vranken S. , Brys R. , Hoffmann M. , Jacquemyn H.
Published: October 2013

To increase the accuracy of pollen capture and transfer by pollinators some plant species have developed secondary pollen presentation structures. Because the presence of secondary pollen presentation structures at the pistil may reduce the spatial separation between the sexual functions and increase the risk of self‐interference and selfing, temporal segregation of the sexual organs, triggered by visiting insects, can be expected to occur. We investigated secondary pollen presentation and the temporal dynamics of the sexual phases in combination with the physiological self‐incompatibility system in Campanula trachelium, a protandrous insect‐pollinated herb. Stylar hair retraction (male function) and curling of the stigmatic lobes (female function) were modelled using Gompertz growth functions. Finally, we performed pollination experiments in the lab and field to assess seed set and pollen limitation under natural conditions. About 68% of the total pollen load was captured by stylar hairs. Manual manipulation of the stylar hairs, mimicking pollinator visitation, significantly shortened the male phase and accelerated the female phase, resulting in a significant decline in temporal overlap between the two sexual functions. Conversely, when pollinators and/or manual manipulations were lacking, the male phase was substantially prolonged and sexual overlap was maximal. This suggests that spreading of the sexual phases and thus the risk of sexual interference are largely determined by the interaction between stylar hairs and visiting pollinators. Natural seed set was high and not pollinator limited. Overall, these results indicate that secondary pollen presentation and partial protandry resulted in efficient pollen capture, transfer and deposition.
Tetracycline accumulates in Iberis sempervirens L. through apoplastic transport inducing oxidative stress and growth inhibition
Authors: Di Marco G. , Gismondi A. , Canuti L. , Scimeca M. , Volpe A. , Canini A.
Published: October 2013

Environmental antibiotic contamination is due mainly to improper and illegal disposal of these molecules that, yet pharmacologically active, are excreted by humans and animals. These compounds contaminate soil, water and plants. Many studies have reported the bioaccumulation of antibiotics in plants and their negative effects on photosynthesis, cell growth and oxidative balance. Therefore, the principal objective of this paper was the study of antibiotic accumulation sites in plants and its uptake modality. Iberis sempervirens L., grown in soil and in agar in the presence or absence of tetracycline, were used as a model system. Using confocal and transmission electron microscopy, we demonstrated that tetracycline was absorbed and propagated in plants through apoplastic transport and also accumulated in intercellular spaces. Tetracycline was rarely detected inside cells (in cytoplasm and mitochondria where, coherent to its pharmacological activity, it probably affected ribosomes), except in stomata. Moreover, we verified and clarified further the phytotoxic effects of tetracycline on plants. We observed that the antibiotic induced a large reduction in plant growth and development and inhibition of photosynthetic activity. As tetracycline may lead to oxidative stress in plants, plant cells tried to balance this disequilibrium by increasing the amount and activity of some endogenous enzyme antioxidant agents (superoxide dismutase 1 and catalase) and levels of antiradical secondary metabolites.
Flexible‐Duration Extended Warranties with Dynamic Reliability Learning
Authors: Gallego Guillermo , Wang Ruxian , Ward Julie , Hu Ming , Beltran Jose Luis
Published: October 2013

Frequent technological innovations and price declines adversely affect sales of extended warranties (EWs) as product replacement upon failure becomes an increasingly attractive alternative. To increase sales and profitability, we propose offering flexible‐duration EWs. These warranties can appeal to customers who are uncertain about how long they will keep the product as well as to customers who are uncertain about the product's reliability. Flexibility may be added to existing services in the form of monthly billing with month‐by‐month commitments or by making existing warranties easier to cancel with pro‐rated refunds. This paper studies flexible warranties from perspectives of both customers and the provider under customers' reliability learning. We present a model of customers' optimal coverage decisions and show that customers' optimal coverage policy has a threshold structure under some mild conditions. We further show that flexible warranties can result in higher profits and higher attach rates in a homogeneous market as well as in a heterogeneous market with multiple segments differing in various dimensions.
Willingness to Pay for Shifting Inventory Risk: The Role of Contractual Form
Authors: Kremer Mirko , Van Wassenhove Luk N.
Published: October 2013

In order to reduce their inventory risk, firms can attempt to contract with their suppliers for shorter supply lead‐times, with their buyers for longer demand lead‐times, or both. We designed a controlled laboratory experiment to study contracts that shift a focal firm's inventory risk to its supply chain partners and address two questions. First, is it more effective if the cost of shifting inventory risk is framed as a fixed fee or in per‐unit cost terms? We find that, generally, our participants are willing to pay more to avoid supply–demand mismatches than the expected costs from such mismatches. This tendency to overpay is mitigated under fixed fee schemes. Second, does it matter whether the option to reduce inventory risk is the outcome of either increased responsiveness from the upstream supplier or advanced demand information from the downstream buyer? Our results suggest that this difference, when only a matter of framing, has no significant effect on willingness‐to‐pay.
Integration of Global Knowledge Networks
Authors: Anderson Edward G. , Parker Geoffrey G.
Published: October 2013

This article surveys the literature and develops a framework for research into the integration of distributed knowledge work (DKW). Knowledge work is considered to be “distributed” whenever key decisions for execution of the project cut across organizational boundaries, as occurs under outsourcing, offshoring, or open‐source arrangements. The growth of such arrangements in recent years is well documented. Nonetheless, research into maintaining the coherence of a DKW project from initiation to customer delivery, often referred to as supply chain integration, project or systems integration, or simply “integration,” is relatively new. We first review the relevant literature from operations, service, and information management, organizational theory, and engineering design, focusing on the key decisions identified by this literature in relation to the contracting, organization, work, and information infrastructure design of a knowledge work project. We then attempt to open the “black box” of integration by inductively organizing these key decisions. Finally, we contrast this approach with prior research frameworks and identify key topics for future study.
I've Got My Eyes on You: Implicit Social‐Pressure Cues and Prosocial Behavior
Authors: Panagopoulos Costas
Published: October 2013

Explicit social pressure has been shown to be a powerful motivator of prosocial behavior‐like voting in elections. In this study, I report the findings of a randomized field experiment designed to study the impact of more subtle, implicit social‐pressure treatments. The results of the experiment, conducted in the October 2011 municipal elections in Key West, Florida, demonstrate that even subtle, implicit observability cues can effectively mobilize citizens to vote, perhaps as much as explicit surveillance cues. The findings speak more broadly to our understanding of human decision making, and even evolution, and provide fodder for the claim that humans are evolutionarily programmed to respond to certain stimuli. I interpret the evidence to support the notion that evolutionarily charged impulses, like exposure to images that implicitly signal the potential for surveillance and observability, are sufficient to overcome powerful collective action incentives to free ride.
Can the Same Politician Help and Hurt the Evaluations of Another Politician? The Role of Categorization on the Elicitation of Assimilation and Contrast Effects in the Mexican Political Context
Authors: Puente‐Diaz Rogelio
Published: October 2013

Two studies investigated the effects of bringing a highly controversial politician to mind on the evaluations of another politician in the Mexican political context. We took advantage of the dynamic nature of the Mexican political context in which politicians often threaten to leave or actually leave their political parties, influencing the categorization process. We hypothesized that the same controversial politician could elicit assimilation and contrast effects on the evaluations of another politician, depending on whether both political figures were treated as lateral categories or members of the same superordinate category. Study 1 found support for the predicted contrast effects but only among those who did not classify both political figures as members of the same political party. Study 2 found support for the expected interexemplar assimilation effects but only among those who classified both political figures as members of the same political party. The theoretical and applied implications of our results were discussed.
Suppression of the clubroot pathogen Plasmodiophora brassicae by plant growth promoting formulations in roots of two Brassica species
Authors: Kammerich J. , Beckmann S. , Scharafat I. , Ludwig‐Müller J.
Published: October 2013

In this study, the ability of two organic plant growth stimulants, mainly based on algal extracts, amino acids and phosphonate, to reduce clubroot formation in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana and two economically important Brassica species, Brassia rapa (Chinese cabbage) and Brassica napus (oilseed rape) was investigated. A commercial liquid (Frutogard®) and a granulate (PlasmaSoil®) formulation were used to find optimum conditions for both control of the pathogen and plant growth. Both formulations were able to significantly reduce gall formation after Plasmodiophora brassicae infection on Chinese cabbage, but PlasmaSoil® gave better effects, possibly as a result of the continuous supply of the components to the soil. Individual components did not have the same effect. Clubroots on oilseed rape could also be reduced. In contrast, club formation was not reduced in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. This points to interesting differences in the induction of resistance in the different species. Cross‐sections of infected and treated roots stained for different macromolecules (callose, lignin, suberin) indicated differences in anatomy as a result of the two formulations. The results indicate an application for the granulate formulation PlasmaSoil® in clubroot control.
Resistant accessions of wild Psidium spp. to Meloidogyne enterolobii and histological characterization of resistance
Authors: Freitas V. M. , Correa V. R. , Motta F. C. , Sousa M. G. , Gomes A. C. M. M. , Carneiro M. D. G. , Silva D. B. , Mattos J. K. , Nicole M. , Carneiro R. M. D. G.
Published: October 2013

Meloidogyne enterolobii has been reported in some states of Brazil and other countries causing severe damage on commercial guava (Psidium guajava). The use of resistant varieties is the most effective way to manage nematode parasitism. This study screened 51 accessions of Psidium spp. selected from the Psidium Germplasm Collection (Embrapa) to look for resistance against M. enterolobii. Six months after inoculation, nematode reproduction factor (RF) was used to assess resistance. The following species were resistant to M. enterolobii: P. cattleianum (yellow guava), P. friedrichsthalianum (Costa Rican guava), Acca sellowiana (feijoa) and P. rufum (purple guava). All 43 wild accessions of P. guajava were susceptible, as well as three accessions of P. guineense (Brazilian guava), one of P. acutangulum (pear guava) and the susceptible control P. guajava cv. Paluma. When used as rootstocks under greenhouse conditions, P. cattleianum and P. friedrichsthalianum were compatible with cv. Paluma; however, in greenhouse and field conditions only 50% of both scions survived. No apparent hypersensitive response (HR) was seen in the resistant guava P. cattleianum and P. friedrichsthalianum. Juveniles were able to develop normal feeding sites similar to those in susceptible roots 6–13 days after inoculation (dai). From 27 to 32 dai, giant cell deterioration was observed and nematodes showed arrested development. The majority of nematodes failed to reach maturity and did not begin laying eggs in resistant roots. These results suggested that the induction of resistance is relatively late in this pathosystem.
Validation of Obstetric Estimate Using Early Ultrasound: 2007 California Birth Certificates
Authors: Barradas Danielle T. , Dietz Patricia M. , Pearl Michelle , England Lucinda J. , Callaghan William M. , Kharrazi Martin
Published: October 2013

Background

Obstetric estimate (OE) of gestational age, recently added to the standard US birth certificate, has not been validated. Using early ultrasound‐based gestational age (prior to 20 weeks gestation) as the criterion standard, we estimated the prevalence of preterm delivery and the sensitivity and positive predictive value (PPV) of gestational age estimates based on OE.

Methods

We analyzed 165 148 singleton livebirth records (38% of California livebirths during the study period) with linked early ultrasound information from a statewide California prenatal screening programme. OE of gestational age estimates was obtained from birth certificates.

Results

Prevalence of preterm delivery (<37 weeks gestation) was higher based on early ultrasound (8.1%) compared with preterm delivery based on OE (7.1%). Sensitivity for preterm birth when using OE for gestational age was 74.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] [74.1, 75.6]), and PPV was 85.1% (95% CI [84.4, 85.7]). Incongruence, defined as a ≥ 14‐day difference between early‐ultrasound‐derived gestational age and OE, was 3.4%.

Conclusions

OE reported on the birth certificate may underestimate the prevalence of preterm delivery, particularly among women of non‐Hispanic non‐white race and ethnicity and women with lower educational attainment, public insurance at time of delivery, and missing prepregnancy BMI. Additional validation studies in other samples of births are needed.
Maternal Pre‐Pregnancy Body Mass Index and Risk of Selected Birth Defects: Evidence of a Dose–Response Relationship
Authors: Block Suzanne R. , Watkins Sharon M. , Salemi Jason L. , Rutkowski Rachel , Tanner Jean Paul , Correia Jane A. , Kirby Russell S.
Published: October 2013

Background

This study investigates the relationship between maternal pre‐pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and 26 birth defects identified through the Florida Birth Defects Registry.

Methods

Pre‐pregnancy BMI (kg/m2) was categorised into underweight (<18.5), normal weight (18.5–24.9), overweight (25.0–29.9), and obese (≥30.0) among Florida resident mothers without pre‐gestational diabetes who gave birth to singleton infants from March 2004 through December 2009. Obesity was classified as obese I (30.0–34.9), obese II (35.0–39.9), and obese III (≥40.0). Logistic regression was used to calculate the adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence interval, representing the association between pre‐pregnancy BMI and each of the 26 specific birth defects (and an ‘any birth defect’ composite). Models were adjusted for maternal age, race/ethnicity, education, smoking, marital status, and nativity.

Results

The livebirth prevalence of any birth defect increased with increasing BMI, from 3.9% among underweight women to 5.3% among obese III women (P < 0.001). Results show a direct dose–response relationship between maternal pre‐pregnancy BMI and 10 defects under study (cleft palate without cleft lip, diaphragmatic hernia, hydrocephalus without spina bifida, hypoplastic left heart syndrome, pulmonary valve atresia and stenosis, pyloric stenosis, rectal and large intestinal atresia/stenosis, transposition of great arteries, tetralogy of Fallot, and ventricular septal defects) and the ‘any birth defect’ category. Conversely, gastroschisis exhibited a statistically significant inverse relationship with pre‐pregnancy BMI.

Conclusions

This study provides evidence of the increasing risk of birth defect‐affected pregnancy with increasing pre‐pregnancy obesity. Reducing pre‐pregnancy obesity, even among obese women, may reduce the occurrence of birth defects.
Household Wealth and Neurocognitive Development Disparities among School‐aged Children in Nepal
Authors: Patel Shivani A. , Murray‐Kolb Laura E. , LeClerq Steven C. , Khatry Subarna K. , Tielsch James M. , Katz Joanne , Christian Parul
Published: October 2013

Background

Wealth disparities in child developmental outcomes are well documented in developed countries. We sought to (1) describe the extent of wealth‐based neurocognitive development disparities and (2) examine potential mediating factors of disparities among a population‐based cohort of children in rural Nepal.

Methods

We investigated household wealth‐based differences in intellectual, executive and motor function of n = 1692 children aged between 7 and 9 years in Nepal. Using linear mixed models, wealth‐based differences were estimated before and after controlling for child and household demographic characteristics. We further examined wealth‐based differences adjusted for three sets of mediators: child nutritional status, home environment, and schooling pattern.

Results

We observed a positive gradient in child neurocognitive performance by household wealth. After adjusting for child and household control factors, disparities between children in the highest and lowest wealth quintiles persisted in intellectual and motor function, but not executive function. No statistically significant wealth‐based differentials in outcomes remained after accounting for nutritional status, home environment, and schooling patterns. The largest differences in neurocognitive development were associated with schooling pattern.

Conclusions

Household wealth patterns child neurocognitive development in rural Nepal, likely through its influence on nutritional status, the home environment, and schooling. In the current context, improving early and regular schooling in this setting is critical to addressing wealth‐based disparities in outcomes.
Predicting Risk of Spontaneous Preterm Delivery in Women with a Singleton Pregnancy
Authors: Morken Nils‐Halvdan , Källen Karin , Jacobsson Bo
Published: October 2013

Background

Prediction of a woman's risk of a spontaneous preterm delivery (PTD) is a core challenge and an unresolved problem in today's obstetric practice. The objective of this study was to develop prediction models for spontaneous PTD (<37 weeks).

Methods

A population‐based register study of women born in Sweden with spontaneous onset of delivery was designed using Swedish Medical Birth Register data for 1992–2008. Predictive variables were identified by multiple logistic regression analysis, and outputs were used to calculate adjusted likelihood ratios in primiparous (n = 199 272) and multiparous (n = 249 580) singleton pregnant women. The predictive ability of each model was validated in a separate test sample for primiparous (n = 190 936) and multiparous (n = 239 203) women, respectively.

Results

For multiparous women, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.74 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.73, 0.74] indicated a satisfying performance of the model, while for primiparous women, it was rather poor {AUC: 0.58 [95% CI 0.57, 0.58]}. For both primiparous and multiparous women, the prediction models were quite good for pregnancies with comparatively low risk for spontaneous PTD, whereas more limited to predict pregnancies with ≥30% risk of spontaneous PTD.

Conclusions

Spontaneous PTD is difficult to predict in multiparous women and nearly impossible in primiparous, by using this statistical method in a large and unselected sample. However, adding clinical data (like cervical length) may in the future further improve its predictive performance.
Placental Abruption as a Significant Risk Factor for Long‐term Cardiovascular Mortality in a Follow‐up Period of More Than a Decade
Authors: Pariente Gali , Shoham‐Vardi Ilana , Kessous Roy , Sherf Michael , Sheiner Eyal
Published: October 2013

Background

To investigate the risk for subsequent cardiovascular events in women having placental abruption during a follow‐up period of more than 10 years.

Methods

A population‐based study of the incidence of cardiovascular events in women who had placental abruption with women without placental abruption during 1988–99 and with follow‐up until 2010. Associations between placental abruption and maternal long‐term cardiovascular morbidity and mortality were investigated. Kaplan–Meier survival curves and multivariable Cox regression were used to estimate cumulative incidence of cardiovascular mortality.

Results

During the study period, there were 47 585 deliveries meeting the inclusion criteria; of these, 653 occurred in patients with placental abruption. No significant association was noted between placental abruption and subsequent long‐term hospitalisations because of cardiovascular causes. However, placental abruption was associated with long‐term cardiovascular mortality [odds ratio (OR) = 6.6; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.3, 18.3]. The cardiovascular case fatality rate for the placental abruption group was 13.0% vs. 2.5% in the comparison group (P < 0.001). Patients with a history of placental abruption had a significantly higher risk for cardiovascular mortality during the follow‐up period (Log‐rank test P = 0.017). Using Cox multivariable regression models, placental abruption remained an independent risk factor for long‐term maternal cardiovascular mortality [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) = 4.3; 95% CI 1.1, 18.6).

Conclusion

Placental abruption is a significant risk factor for long‐term cardiovascular mortality in a follow‐up period of more than a decade.
The Association of Maternal Intrapartum Subfebrile Temperature and Adverse Obstetric and Neonatal Outcomes
Authors: Dior Uri P. , Kogan Liron , Calderon‐Margalit Ronit , Burger Ayala , Amsallem Hagai , Elchalal Uriel , Eventov‐Friedman Smadar , Ergaz Zivanit , Ezra Yossef
Published: October 2013

Background

Subfebrile intrapartum maternal temperature is very common, yet there is sparse evidence regarding its causes or its effects on perinatal outcomes. We examined whether mild temperature elevation during labour is a risk marker for adverse obstetric and neonatal outcomes.

Methods

A retrospective cohort analysis including 42 601 term, singleton live‐births in two medical centres between 2003 and 2010 was performed. This study compared women who experienced a maximal intrapartum temperature of ≤37°C with women who experienced subfebrile intrapartum temperature (37.1–37.9°C). Adjusted risks for adverse obstetric and neonatal outcomes were calculated by using multivariable logistic regression models.

Results

Compared with maternal temperature ≤ 37°C, subfebrile temperature was associated with higher rates of primary caesarean deliveries {adjusted odds ratios [aOR] = 1.36 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25, 1.49])} and assisted vaginal deliveries (aOR = 1.20 [95% CI 1.11, 1.30]), as well as with greater risks of early neonatal sepsis (aOR = 2.66 [95% CI 1.88, 3.77]), neonatal intensive care unit admissions (aOR = 1.40 [95% CI 1.08, 1.83]), and neonatal asphyxia or seizures (aOR = 3.18 [95% CI 1.51, 6.70]). Mildly elevated maternal intrapartum temperature (37.1–37.5°C) was also associated with adverse outcomes.

Conclusions

Maternal intrapartum subfebrile temperature may be an indicator of operative delivery and neonatal morbidity. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and to reveal underlying mechanisms.
Preconception Biomarkers of Allostatic Load and Racial Disparities in Adverse Birth Outcomes: the Bogalusa Heart Study
Authors: Wallace Maeve , Harville Emily , Theall Katherine , Webber Larry , Chen Wei , Berenson Gerald
Published: October 2013

Background

Large disparities in adverse birth outcomes persist between African American and white women in the US despite decades of research, policy, and public health intervention. Allostatic load is an index of dysregulation across multiple physiologic systems that results from chronic exposure to stress in the physical and socio‐cultural environment which may lead to earlier health deterioration among racially or socio‐economically disadvantaged groups. The purpose of this investigation was to examine relationships between maternal biomarkers of allostatic load prior to conception and the occurrence of preterm birth and small for gestational age infants among a cohort of white and African American women participants in the Bogalusa Heart Study.

Methods

Data from women participants were linked to the birth record of their first‐born infant. Principal components analysis was used to construct an index of allostatic load as a summary of the weighted contribution of nine biomarkers representing three physiologic domains: cardiovascular, metabolic, and immune systems. A series of Poisson regression models based on samples ranging from 1467 to 375 women were used to examine race, individual biomarkers of allostatic load, and quartiles of the allostatic load index as predictors of preterm birth (n = 150, 10.2%) and small for gestational age (n = 135, 9.2%).

Results

There was no evidence of a relationship between maternal preconception allostatic load and either adverse birth outcome in this sample. Further, there was no evidence of effect modification of by race or education.

Conclusions

More work is needed in understanding the biological mechanisms linking social inequities to racial disparities in adverse birth outcomes.
Tissue regeneration after bark girdling: an ideal research tool to investigate plant vascular development and regeneration
Authors: Chen Jia‐Jia , Zhang Jing , He Xin‐Qiang
Published: October 2013

Regeneration is a common strategy for plants to survive the intrinsic and extrinsic challenges they face through their life cycle, and it may occur upon wounding. Bark girdling is applied to improve fruit production or harvest bark as medicinal material. When tree bark is removed, the cambium and phloem will be peeled off. After a small strip of bark is removed from trees, newly formed periderm and wound cambium develop from the callus on the surface of the trunk, and new phloem is subsequently derived from the wound cambium. However, after large‐scale girdling, the newly formed sieve elements (SEs) appear earlier than the regenerated cambium, and both of them derive from differentiating xylem cells rather than from callus. This secondary vascular tissue regeneration mainly involves three key stages: callus formation and xylem cell dedifferentiation; SEs appearance and wound cambium formation. The new bark is formed within 1 month in poplar, Eucommia; thus, it provides high temporal resolution of regenerated tissues at different stages. In this review, we will illustrate the morphology, gene expression and phytohormone regulation of vascular tissue regeneration after large‐scale girdling in trees, and also discuss the potential utilization of the bark girdling system in studies of plant vascular development and tissue regeneration.
Early steps of adventitious rooting: morphology, hormonal profiling and carbohydrate turnover in carnation stem cuttings
Authors: Agulló‐Antón María Ángeles , Ferrández‐Ayela Almudena , Fernández‐García Nieves , Nicolás Carlos , Albacete Alfonso , Pérez‐Alfocea Francisco , Sánchez‐Bravo José , Pérez‐Pérez José Manuel , Acosta Manuel
Published: October 2013

The rooting of stem cuttings is a common vegetative propagation practice in many ornamental species. A detailed analysis of the morphological changes occurring in the basal region of cultivated carnation cuttings during the early stages of adventitious rooting was carried out and the physiological modifications induced by exogenous auxin application were studied. To this end, the endogenous concentrations of five major classes of plant hormones [auxin, cytokinin (CK), abscisic acid, salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid] and the ethylene precursor 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylic acid were analyzed at the base of stem cuttings and at different stages of adventitious root formation. We found that the stimulus triggering the initiation of adventitious root formation occurred during the first hours after their excision from the donor plant, due to the breakdown of the vascular continuum that induces auxin accumulation near the wounding. Although this stimulus was independent of exogenously applied auxin, it was observed that the auxin treatment accelerated cell division in the cambium and increased the sucrolytic activities at the base of the stem, both of which contributed to the establishment of the new root primordia at the stem base. Further, several genes involved in auxin transport were upregulated in the stem base either with or without auxin application, while endogenous CK and SA concentrations were specially affected by exogenous auxin application. Taken together our results indicate significant crosstalk between auxin levels, stress hormone homeostasis and sugar availability in the base of the stem cuttings in carnation during the initial steps of adventitious rooting.
An assessment of the biotechnological use of hemoglobin modulation in cereals
Authors: Hebelstrup Kim H. , Shah Jay K. , Simpson Catherine , Schjoerring Jan K. , Mandon Julien , Cristescu Simona M. , Harren Frans J. M. , Christiansen Michael W. , Mur Luis A. J. , Igamberdiev Abir U.
Published: October 2013

Non‐symbiotic hemoglobin (nsHb) genes are ubiquitous in plants, but their biological functions have mostly been studied in model plant species rather than in crops. nsHb influences cell signaling and metabolism by modulating the levels of nitric oxide (NO). Class 1 nsHb is upregulated under hypoxia and is involved in various biotic and abiotic stress responses. Ectopic overexpression of nsHb in Arabidopsis thaliana accelerates development, whilst targeted overexpression in seeds can increase seed yield. Such observations suggest that manipulating nsHb could be a valid biotechnological target. We studied the effects of overexpression of class 1 nsHb in the monocotyledonous crop plant barley (Hordeum vulgare cv. Golden Promise). nsHb was shown to be involved in NO metabolism in barley, as ectopic overexpression reduced the amount of NO released during hypoxia. Further, as in Arabidopsis, nsHb overexpression compromised basal resistance toward pathogens in barley. However, unlike Arabidopsis, nsHb ectopic overexpression delayed growth and development in barley, and seed specific overexpression reduced seed yield. Thus, nsHb overexpression in barley does not seem to be an efficient strategy for increasing yield in cereal crops. These findings highlight the necessity for using actual crop plants rather than laboratory model plants when assessing the effects of biotechnological approaches to crop improvement.
Bacteria isolated from roots and rhizosphere of Vitis vinifera retard water losses, induce abscisic acid accumulation and synthesis of defense‐related terpenes in in vitro cultured grapevine
Authors: Salomon María Victoria , Bottini Rubén , de Souza Filho Gonçalo Apolinário , Cohen Ana Carmen , Moreno Daniela , Gil Mariana , Piccoli Patricia
Published: October 2013

Eleven bacterial strains were isolated at different soil depths from roots and rhizosphere of grapevines from a commercial vineyard. By 16S rRNA gene sequencing 10 different genera and 8 possible at species level were identified. From them, Bacillus licheniformis Rt4M10 and Pseudomonas fluorescens Rt6M10 were selected according to their characteristics as plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). Both produced abscisic acid (ABA), indole‐3‐acetic acid (IAA) and the gibberellins A1 and A3 in chemically‐defined medium. They also colonized roots of in vitro grown Vitis vinifera cv. Malbec plants. As result of bacterization ABA levels in 45 days‐old in vitro plants were increased 76‐fold by B. licheniformis and 40‐fold by P. fluorescens as compared to controls. Both bacteria diminished plant water loss rate in correlation with increments of ABA. Twenty and 30 days post bacterization the plants incremented terpenes. The monoterpenes α‐pinene, terpinolene, 4‐carene, limonene, eucalyptol and lilac aldehyde A, and the sesquiterpenes α‐bergamotene, α‐farnesene, nerolidol and farnesol were assessed by gas chromatography‐electron impact mass spectrometry analysis. α‐Pinene and nerolidol were the most abundant (µg per g of tissue in plants bacterized with P. fluorescens). Only α‐pinene, eucalyptol and farnesol were identified at low concentration in non‐bacterized plants treated with ABA, while no terpenes were detected in controls. The results obtained along with others from literature suggest that B. licheniformis and P. fluorescens act as stress alleviators by inducing ABA synthesis so diminishing water losses. These bacteria also elicit synthesis of compounds of plant defense via an ABA independent mechanism.
Lack of association between apolipoprotein E genotypes and cognitive performance in the non‐demented elderly
Authors: Quintas Juliana Lima , Souza Vinícius Carolino , Henriques Adriane Dallanora , Machado‐Silva Wilcelly , Toledo Juliana Oliveira , Córdova Cláudio , Moraes Clayton Franco , Camargos Einstein Francisco , Nóbrega Otávio Toledo
Published: October 2013

Aim

The ε4 alelle of the apolipoprotein E gene is known to be a key genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease and possibly for other neurological disorders. Some evidence in the literature indicates that the ε4 allele interferes with human cognition independently of chronological age and diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. The present study investigated the correlation of allelic variants of apolipoprotein E with the cognitive performance of elderly individuals without apparent cognitive impairment.

Methods

This was a cross‐sectional analysis that included 213 non‐demented elderly individuals (age ≥60 years) from the Brazilian Federal District. The analysis assessed the subjects for cognitive domains including short‐ and long‐term episodic memory, processing speed, and attention and executive functions. Sociodemographic and other clinical characteristics were gathered and analyzed as covariates.

Results

Being sufficiently powered, the present study did not identify differential performance across apolipoprotein E genotypes. There was no influence of age, gender, marital status, schooling, depressive symptoms or use of central nervous system depressants when the analyses were controlled for such factors.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that the ε4 allele does not contribute to detectable cognitive decline within the context of non‐dementia.
Analogical Arguments for Egalitarianism
Authors: Freiman Christopher
Published: October 2013

Egalitarians sometimes analogize socioeconomic opportunities to starting gates, playing fields, and the results of a lottery. A fair game is one in which all have an equal opportunity to succeed; egalitarians propose that the same is true of a fair society. A second type of argument for egalitarianism appeals to intuitions about the distribution of found resources. A just division of manna discovered on a strange planet seems to be an equal one. Both types of argument share a crucial feature: they concern the once‐off division of a fixed sum of goods. I argue that the most compelling reasons to depart from an equal division of goods derive from the economic activity involved in producing more of those goods, e.g., Pareto improvements due to efficiency gains that result from incentives that encourage production. We cannot conclude that game analogies and found resources cases arbitrate in favour of equality against non‐egalitarian principles because they exclude precisely those considerations that provide the strongest reasons to reject equality.
A Distinction Without a Difference? Good Advice for Moral Error Theorists
Authors: Lillehammer Hallvard
Published: October 2013

This paper explores the prospects of different forms of moral error theory. It is argued that only a suitably local error theory would make good sense of the fact that it is possible to give and receive genuinely good moral advice.